Third
Quarter
Adult Division, No. 305, Third Quarter, 1971
Eesson
Titles fol. the
Quartlev
1.
A World in Revolt
2.
The Message of Missions
3.
The Morning of Missions
4.
The Master of Missions
5.
The March of Missions
6.
The Mystery of Missions
7.
The Motive of Missions
8.
The Method of Missions
9.
Missions Misunderstood
10.
Money and Missions
11.
The Ministry of Missions
12.
The Men of Missions
13.
The Miracle of Missions
Sabbath School Lesson Quarterly (regular edition), No. 305, July-September, 1971. 30 cents a
single copy, $1.20 a year (four issues) ; no additional charge to countries requiring extra postage.
Published in the U.S.A. by Pacific Press Publishing Association (a corporation of S.D.A.), 1350
Villa Street, Mountain View, California 94040. Second-class mail privileges authorized at Mountain
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both old and new addresses.
Copyright, 1971, by Pacific Publishing Association
Cover photo by John Hancock
Illustrations by James Converse
The Blessing of Daily Study
"Every day some portion of time should be appropriated
to the study of the lessons, not merely in learning to me-
chanically repeat the words, while the mind does not com-
prehend the meaning; but to go to the very foundation, and
become familiar with what is brought out in the lesson."
—Counsels on Sabbath School Work,
page 53.
My Pledge
As one who greatly desires to improve his knowledge of
the Scriptures, I pledge myself to the careful and prayerful
study of some portion of my Sabbath School lesson each
day of the week.
(signed)
The Chtuinch and Ilts
Woilild Mission
THIRD QUARTER, 1971
Seventh-day Adventists, who owe their very existence to the divine call
to carry the "advent message to all the world," do well to restudy the Bibli-
cal and historical bases of our call and commitment, and to reexamine our
methods of carrying on mission work. This inquiry should help us catch
again the enthusiasm and spirit that motivated our early pioneers and their
successors upon whom the reality of a world mission challenge began to
dawn.
These lessons are designed not only to develop new interest in world
witnessing, but also to show that every member of the church, regardless
of age, station in life, education, or race, is to be involved, in fact
must
be
involved, if the task is to be accomplished.
Today, when many countries scattered around the globe are serving as
home bases for overseas missionaries, it is no longer correct to designate
"missions" as a branch of the church which is concerned with the evangeli-
zation of certain areas or racial groups. "Missions" is to be the immediate
concern of every member, and missionary work is to be carried out in one's
own household, neighborhood, and town as well as outside the borders
within which he was born. Although these lessons may emphasize the
"overseas" aspect of mission service, they are also intended to reawaken an
interest in the overall mission of the church and the purpose of our exis-
tence as a movement, whether such activity be carried on
at home
or
abroad.
In these challenging and trying times, if we will take the opportunity
to do so, we may lift up our eyes "and look on the fields"; noting certainly
that "they are white already to harvest."
4
LESSON 1
July 3, 1971
A WORLD IN REVOLT 1
"God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their
trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation."
2 Cor. 5:19.
In introducing a new series of lessons for
this quarter on the topic of "The Church
and Its World Mission," we wish first of
all to establish a Biblical and theological
basis for mission. Rebellion began in heaven,
and was transferred to this earth. In part
at least, Satan rebelled because he was not
consulted over the creation of man and this
earth.
"Satan was envious and jealous of Jesus
Christ. Yet when all the angels bowed to
Jesus to acknowledge His supremacy and
high authority and rightful rule, Satan
bowed with them; but his heart was filled
with envy and hatred. Christ had been
taken into the special counsel of God in
regard to His plans, while Satan was un-
acquainted with them. He did not under-
stand, neither was he permitted to know,
the purposes of God. . . . Why should
Christ thus be honored before himself ?"
—Spirit of Prophecy,
Vol. 1, p. 18.
Man became a vital part of the whole
drama: (1) creation, (2) disobedience in
Eden, (3) rebellious attitude, (4) redemp-
tion and reconciliation, and (5) man's re-
sponsibility in helping God reconcile the
world to Himself.
KEY WORDS
Rebellion.
The words "rebel," "rebel-
lion," and "rebellious" in our English Bi-
ble, are translations from three Hebrew
words, and take on the meanings of to
turn aside, to provoke, to make bitter, and
to transgress. The dictionary says that re-
bellion is open resistance to authority, in-
subordination, forcible resistance. "Rebellion
originated with Satan, and all rebellion
against God is directly due to satanic in-
fluence."—Patriarchs and Prophets,
page
635.
Reconcile, reconciliation.
Here we have
words with rather deep theological involve-
ments because they come to us in the Eng-
lish KJV from a background of Hebrew
and Greek words with a wide range of
meaning: "to cover, make atonement," "to
make self pleasing," "to change thoroughly,"
"to appease, or propitiate." According to
the Adventist concept, the atonement on
the cross was one thing, while the work
of reconciling man to God is a second step.
Reconciliation includes man's intelligence,
his emotions, and his will.
LESSON OUTLINE
I. Sin Enters Heaven
Isa. 14:12-15
2.
God's Purpose in Creating This
Earth
Isa. 45:18
3.
Controversy Transferred to
This Earth
Rev. 12:7, 8, 12
4.
Sin Enters This Earth
Rom. 5:12
5.
Man in Rebellion
Eph. 6:12; Rom. 3:23; 8:10
6.
Reconciling the World Unto God
Col. 1:20, 21
5
A World in Revolt
LESSON 1
❑
Sunday
June 27
Part 1
"How art thou fallen from heaven, 0 Lucifer, son of
SIN ENTERS the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which
HEAVEN didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine
heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne
above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of
the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend
above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the Most
High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the
Isa. 14:12-15
sides of the pit."
THINK IT THROUGH
"Sin originated with him who, next to Christ, had been most
honored of God and was highest in power and glory among
the inhabitants of heaven. Lucifer, 'son of the morning,' was
first of the covering cherubs, holy and undefiled."—Patriarchs
and Prophets,
page 35.
While urging changes in the order and laws of heaven,
what were the underlying motivations of Lucifer? Isaiah
14:13, 14.
"Lucifer allowed his jealousy of Christ to prevail, and be-
came the more determined.
"To dispute the supremacy of the Son of God, thus im-
peaching the wisdom and love of the Creator, had become the
purpose of this prince of angels."—Ibid., p. 36.
"While claiming for himself perfect loyalty to God, he urged
that changes in the order and laws of heaven were necessary
for the stability of the divine government."—Ibid., p. 38.
"Satan had claimed from the first that he was not in rebel-
lion."—Ibid.,
p. 42.
What personal attitudes could place us in jeopardy
similar to Lucifer's when he attacked God?
"The King of the universe summoned
the heavenly hosts before Him, that in
their presence He might set forth the
true position of His Son and show the
relation He sustained to all created be-
ings. The Son of God shared the Father's
throne, and the glory of the eternal,
self-existent One encircled both."—"Pa-
triarchs and Prophets," page 36.
"God desires from all His creatures
the service of love—service that springs
from an appreciation of His character.
He takes no pleasure in a forced obe-
6
dience; and to all He grants freedom of
will, that they may render Him volun-
tary service."—"Ibid.," p. 34.
"God permitted Satan to carry for-
ward his work until the spirit of disaf-
fection ripened into active revolt. . . .
Until fully developed, it could not be
made to appear the evil thing it was;
his disaffection would not be seen to be
rebellion."—"Ibid.," p. 41.
FOR DEEPER STUDY: "Patriarchs and
Prophets," pages 33-43.
A World in Revolt
LESSON 1
Part 2
GOD'S PURPOSE IN
CREATING THIS
EARTH
Isa. 45:18
THINK IT THROUGH
❑
Monday
June
28
"For thus saith the Lord that created the heavens; God
Himself that formed the earth and made it; He hath estab-
lished it, He created it not in vain, He formed it to be
inhabited: I am the Lord; and there is none else."
"God created both the world and its inhabitants, and must
have had a beneficent purpose for so doing."—SDA
Bible Com-
mentary,
on Isa. 45:12.
"God made the world to enlarge heaven. He desires a larger
family of created intelligences."—Ellen G. White Comments,
SDA Bible Commentary,
Vol. 1, page 1081.
What was the crowning act of creation? Gen. 1:26, 27.
"In the creation it was His purpose that the earth should
be inhabited by beings whose existence would be a blessing to
themselves and to one another, and an honor to their Creator."
—Prophets and Kings,
page 500.
What relationship would created man sustain to cre-
ated celestial beings? Ps. 8:4-6.
"All heaven took a deep and joyful interest in the creation
of the world and of man. Human beings were a new and dis-
tinct order. They were made 'in the image of God,' and it was
the Creator's design that they should populate the earth. They
were to live in close communion with heaven, receiving power
from the Source of all power. . . .
"God created man a superior being; he alone is formed in
the image of God, and is capable of partaking -of the divine
nature, of cooperating with his Creator and executing His
plans."—Sons and Daughters of God,
page 7.
In creating the earth for man, what responsibilities
did God place upon man?
"After the earth was created, and the
beasts upon it, the Father and Son car-
ried out their purpose, which was de-
signed before the fall of Satan, to make
man in their own image."—"Spiritual
Gifts," Vol. 3, page 33.
"Before the fall of Satan, the Father
consulted His Son in regard to the for-
mation of man. They purposed to make
this world, and create beasts and living
things upon it, and to make man in the
image of God, to reign as a ruling
monarch over every living thing which
God should create. When Satan learned
the purpose of God, he was envious at
Christ, and jealous because the Father
had not consulted him in regard to the
creation of man."—"Ibid.," p. 36.
"At the creation, labor was appointed
as a blessing. It meant development,
power, happiness. The changed condi-
tion of the earth through the curse of
sin has brought a change in the condi-
tions of labor. . . . It is still a source of
happiness and development. And it is
a safeguard against temptation. . . .
Thus it becomes a part of God's great
plan for our recovery from the Fall."
—"Education," page 214.
FOR DEEPER STUDY: "Patriarchs and
and Prophets," pages 50, 51.
7
A World in Revolt
LESSON 1
1).
THINK IT THROUGH
❑
Tuesday
June 29
"And there was war in heaven: Michael and His angels
fought against the dragon; . . . and he [Satan] was cast
out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with
him."
"Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea!
for the devil is come down unto you."
Here John the Revelator reviews briefly the history of the
great controversy between Satan and Christ from its inception
in heaven and its transfer to this earth, down to Christ's vic-
tory at the cross and afterward. See
SDA Bible Commentary,
on Rev. 12:7.
Did Satan willingly leave the courts of heaven, or was
he ejected? Rev. 12:9.
"When Satan had succeeded in winning many angels to his
side, he took his cause to God, representing that it was the
desire of the angels that he occupy the position that Christ held.
"The evil continued to work until the spirit of disaffection
ripened into active revolt. . . . Satan, with all who sympa-
thized with him, was cast out. Satan had warred for the mas-
tery in heaven, and had lost the battle. God could no longer
trust him with honor and supremacy, and these, with the part
he had taken in the government of heaven, were taken from
him."—Ellen G. White Comments,
SDA Bible Commentary,
Vol. 7, pp. 972, 973.
Upon being excluded from heaven, where did Satan
decide to set up his kingdom? Rev. 12:12.
Does jealousy and self-exaltation always involve per-
sonalities?
Does this same spirit lead to a desire for revenge?
Part 3
CONTROVERSY
TRANSFERRED TO
THIS EARTH
Rev. 12:7-9, 12
"When Satan rebelled, there was
war in heaven, and he, with all his
sympathizers, was cast out. He had
held a high office in heaven, possessing
a throne radiant with light. But he
swerved from his allegiance to the
blessed and only Potentate, and fell
from his first estate. All who sympa-
thized with him were driven from the
presence of God, doomed to be no more
acknowledged in the heavenly courts
as having a right there. Satan became
the avowed antagonist of Christ. On
the earth he planted the standard of
rebellion, and round it his sympathizers
8
rallied."—Ellen G. White Comments,
"SDA Bible Commentary," Vol. 7, p.
973.
"There is a grand rebellion in the
earthly universe. . . . Lucifer revolted
from his allegiance and makes war on
the divine government. Christ is ap-
pointed to put down the rebellion. He
makes this world His battlefield. He
stands at the head of the human fam-
ily. . . .
"The salvation of a world is at
stake."—"Ibid." Vol. 4, p. 1163.
FOR DEEPER STUDY: "The Desire of
Ages," pages 490, 493.
A
World in Revolt
LESSON 1
❑
Wednesday
June 30
Part 4
"Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world,
SIN ENTERS and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for
THIS EARTH that all have sinned."
Rom. 5:12
What essential difference was there between the fall
of Eve and that of Adam? 1 Tim. 2:14. Compare 2 Cor.
11:3.
THINK IT THROUGH
In the light of the story of Genesis 3, think over these
questions:
1. What reasons can you think of for denying Adam
and Eve the privilege of eating of the tree of knowledge
of good and evil? Was it simply an arbitrary restriction?
Gen. 2:16, 17; 3:1-3.
2.
What did the choice involve?
3.
Had Adam and Eve been warned of Satan's inten-
tions?
"The angels warned them to be on their guard against the
devices of Satan, for his efforts to ensnare them would be
unwearied."—Patriarchs and Prophets,
page 53.
4.
Would you classify the test as easy or hard?
5.
Did Satan exercise creative power in the Garden
of Eden?
6.
Why do you suppose Satan assumed or chose the
serpent as his medium? Wasn't that degrading himself?
"In order to accomplish his work unperceived, Satan chose
to employ as his medium the serpent—a disguise well adapted
for his purpose of deception. The serpent was then one of the
wisest and most beautiful creatures on the earth. It had wings,
and while flying through the air presented an appearance of
dazzling brightness, having the color and brilliancy of burnished
gold."—Ibid.,
p. 53.
"The fall of Lucifer, who had been
foremost among the angels of heaven
(Isa. 14:12, 13; Eze. 28:13-15), obvi-
ously preceded the Fall of man (see
"Patriarchs and Prophets," page 36).
God, who daily conversed with man in
the garden, had not left him ignorant of
events in heaven, but had acquainted
him with the apostasy of Satan and
other angels. .
"The trial of our first parents was
permitted as a test of their loyalty and
love. . . . Inasmuch as God did not
wish them to be tempted above their
ability to withstand (1 Cor. 10:13), He
did not allow Satan to approach them
in the likeness of God, or at any other
place than this one tree. . . . Satan,
therefore, came in the form of a crea-
ture, not only inferior to God, but far
below man himself."—"SDA Bible Com-
mentary," on Gen. 3:1.
FOR DEEPER STUDY: "Education,"
pages 23-27.
9
A
World in Revolt
LESSON 1
❑
Thursday
July 1
"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of
God."
"And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of
sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness."
Man is responsible for the results of his own sin. He is
involved in the rebellion, and the outcome for him will depend
upon his choice.
How much was actually lost by the fall of man?
Part 5
MAN IN REBELLION
Rom. 3:23; 8:10
What warning has been given in regard to the insti-
gator of rebellion? 1 Peter 5:8.
"Rebellion will exist as long as Satan
exists."—Selected
Messages,
Bk. 1, p. 72.
Not only did man sin, but he became an enemy of God by
nature. And as long as men are at enmity with God, they are
also at enmity with one another. See
The Desire of Ages,
pages
302, 305.
When man was created, he was given dominion over this
earth. When man sinned, he forfeited this dominion, and it
was usurped by the deceiver.
THINK IT THROUGH
Did sin enter any other world than our own?
"The beasts of the field obey their
Creator's law in the instinct which gov-
erns them. He speaks to the proud
ocean, . . . and the waters are prompt
to obey His word. The planets are mar-
shaled in perfect order.
. . Of all the
creatures that God has made upon the
earth, man alone is rebellious.
"Yet he possesses reasoning powers
10
to understand the claims of the divine
law and a conscience to feel the guilt
of transgression and the peace and joy
of obedience. God made him a free
moral agent, to obey or disobey."—
"The Sanctified Life," page 76.
FOR DEEPER STUDY:
"The Desire of
Ages," pages 302, 305; "The Great Con-
troversy," pages 505, 506.
A World in Revolt
LESSON 1
July 3
Part 7 G SUMMARY QUESTIONS G A TEST OF YOUR STUDY POWER
1. Give as many Scriptural names for Satan as possible •
2.
Complete: "Thou bast made him [man] a little lower
3.
What is at stake in the great controversy between Christ and Satan?
4.
Complete: "Satan comes to man with his temptations as an
, as he came to Christ."
5.
Complete: "Upon the earth,
rebellious."
6.
Name the things it takes to constitute a theater and/or drama •
(The answers are at the bottom of the page.)
sioleloads
'wog 'u'esy. ';o p:1 'slope '02els (g) !s! amp nem (9) :4421!' lo 'ague (t) !plioot or') Jo umlemes
ay; (c) !slam ay; ueq) (g) :2murow ay; jo uos '4uadras 'ropona 'Yokel') 'llnap (") :sionssuy
12
The Message of Missions
LESSON 2
❑
Tuesday
July 6
Part 3
"And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon
IN A LATTER-DAY the cloud One sat like unto the Son of man, having on
SETTING His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle.
And another angel came out of the temple, crying with
a loud voice to Him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in Thy
sickle, and reap: for the time is come for Thee to reap;
for the harvest of the earth is ripe. And He that sat on
the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth; and the earth
Rev. 14:14-16 was reaped."
Following the proclamation of these messages a typical de-
scription of the second coming of Christ is presented, and that
is followed by the fourth angel of this chapter who is por-
trayed as reaping the harvest of the earth.
When is the harvest? Matt. 13:39.
THINK IT THROUGH
The harvest portrayed in Rev. 14:15-20 is the final harvest
at the end of the world. Actually two harvests are presented
here which are prefigured in the two annual harvests in Pales-
tine, the grain harvest and the vintage. The grain harvest rep-
resents the gathering of the righteous. The gathering of the
"fully ripe" grapes which are cast into the winepress of the
wrath of God represents the gathering of the wicked for
destruction.
What blessing is pronounced upon those who die in
the faith of the three angels' messages? Rev. 14:13. Com-
pare Dan. 12:2.
This blessing may be pronounced on this group because
theirs is the privilege of being raised in the special resurrection
which precedes the general resurrection of the righteous.
"All who have died in the faith of the third angel's message
come forth from the tomb glorified, to hear God's covenant of
peace with those who have kept His
law."—The Great Con-
troversy,
page 637.
The phrase "their works do follow them," in Rev. 14:13,
may refer to the fruitage of the work they have begun in first
proclaiming the three angels' messages which will be evidenced
in the large harvest at the end of the world.
If we really believe what we have studied in this
section, what should be our relationship to stewardship
of our time and means?
"The time has come when through
God's messengers the scroll is being
unrolled to the world. The truth con-
tained in the first, second, and third
angels' messages must go to every na-
tion, kindred, tongue, and people; it
16
must lighten the darkness of every con-
tinent, and extend to the islands of the
sea. There must be no delay in this
work."—"Gospel Workers," page 470.
FOR DEEPER STUDY:
"The Great Con-
troversy," pages 635-652.
The Message of Missions
LESSON 2
❑
Thursday
July 8
Part 5
"And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon
THE SECOND is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all
ANGEL'S MESSAGE nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication."
Rev. 14:8
Historically, the second angel's message followed the first
and "was first preached in the summer of 1844." But, just as
the first angel's message has not yet been given to the world
in all its fullness, so "not yet . . . can it be said that 'Babylon
is fallen, . . . because she made
all nations
drink of the wine
of the wrath of her fornication.' . . . The work of apostasy has
not yet reached its culmination."—The
Great Controversy,
page 389.
Babylon, from its beginning, was symbolic of rebellion
against God and oppression of His people. Perhaps Satan's
greatest achievement is the introduction of "Babylon" into
the Christian church itself, and in this prophecy it is symbolic
of all apostate religions and individuals.
What did Jesus declare to indicate that there would
be "Babylonish" elements within the church, causing Him
to be misrepresented? Matt. 7:21-23.
Rev. 18:1-4 "points forward to a time when the announce-
ment of the fall of Babylon, as made by the second angel of
Rev. 14:8, is to be repeated, with the additional mention of
the corruptions which have been entering the various organiza-
tions that constitute Babylon, since that message was first
given."—Ibid., p. 603.
The "loud cry" of the third angel "has already begun in the
revelation of the righteousness of Christ, the sin-pardoning
Redeemer. This is the beginning of the light of the angel whose
glory shall fill the whole earth."—Ellen G. White Comments,
SDA Bible Commentary,
Vol. 7, p. 984.
In Rev. 14:8 coercion by religious powers suggested in the
terms "made" and "all nations" indicates the universal extent
of apostasy. But, at the same time that apostasy becomes
worldwide, the righteousness of Christ is to be revealed in the
lives of His people as a "witness to all nations."
THINK IT THROUGH
How long has it been since this message was first
given? How much longer must we wait for the call to
"come out of her"? Rev. 18:4.
"Miller and his associates fulfilled
prophecy and gave a message which
Inspiration had foretold should be given
to the world, but which they could not
have given had they fully understood
the prophecies pointing out their dis-
appointment, and presenting another
message to be preached to all nations
18
before the Lord should come. The first
and second angels' messages were
given at the right time and accom-
plished the work which God designed
to accomplish by them."—"The Great
Controversy," page 405.
FOR DEEPER STUDY:
"Early Writings,"
pages 237-240.
Part 6
THE THIRD
ANGEL'S MESSAGE
Rev. 14:9
'
THINK IT THROUGH
❑
Friday
July
9
"And the third angel followed them, saying with a
loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image,
and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand."
The test of the seventh-day Sabbath, which is a part of the
third angel's message, was carried to the world by many of
those who preached the first two messages of Rev. 14:6, 7.
Among these were Joseph Bates and James and Ellen White,
who in the mid-1840's began to keep the seventh-day Sabbath.
In the long years that have followed, Sabbath-keeping Advent-
ists have been carrying this great truth to the world. But the
time comes for it to be given with greatest power when the
attention of the whole world is focused upon this issue. See
The Great Controversy,.
pages 604-606. This is still unfulfilled
prophecy, and Adventists clearly teach that no one yet has
received the "mark of the beast" mentioned in this prophecy.
But the time is soon coming when "the Sabbath will be the
great test of loyalty, for it is the point of truth especially con-
troverted. When the final test shall be brought to bear upon
men, then the line of distinction will be drawn between those
who serve God and those who serve Him not. While the ob-
servance of the false sabbath in compliance with the law of the
state, contrary to the fourth commandment, will be an avowal
of allegiance to a power that is in opposition to God, the keep-
ing of the true Sabbath, in obedience to God's law, is an evi-
dence of loyalty to the Creator. While one class, by accepting
the sign of submission to earthly powers, receive the mark of
the beast, the other, choosing the token of allegiance to divine
authority, receive the seal of God."—The
Great Controversy,
page 605.
"Just as soon as the people of God are sealed in their fore-
heads—it is not any seal or mark that can be seen, but a set-
tling into the truth, both intellectually and spiritually, so they
cannot be moved—just as soon as God's people are sealed and
prepared for the shaking, it will come. Indeed, it has begun
already; the judgments of God are now upon the land, . . .
that we may know what is coming."—Ellen G. White Com-
ments,
SDA Bible Commentary,
Vol. 4, p. 1161.
What will bring about a change in the experience of
the Laodicean church that will enable the members fully
to reflect Christ's character to the world?
The Message of Missions
LESSON 2
"There is to be a mark placed upon
God's people, and that mark is the
keeping of His holy Sabbath."
"Individually we need to inquire, In
observing a day of rest, have I drawn
my faith from the Scriptures, or from
a spurious representation of truth? Ev-
ery soul who fastens himself to the
divine, everlasting covenant, made and
presented to us as a sign and mark of
God's government, fastens himself to
the golden chain of obedience, every
link of which is a promise. He shows
that he regards God's Word as above
the word of man, God's love as pref-
erable to the love of man."—Ellen G.
White Comments, "SDA Bible Commen-
tary," Vol. 7, p. 981.
FOR DEEPER STUDY: "Testimonies,"
Vol. 6, p. 90; "The Great Controversy,"
pages 611, 612.
19
LESSON 3
July 17, 1971
THE MORNING OF MISSIONS
3
"For Mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people." Isa. 56:7.
The history of missions is the history of
men—men of great vision and faith who
under the guidance of the Holy Spirit were
willing to forsake all and go wherever God
led them in the task of proclaiming the
everlasting gospel. This section on "the
morning of missions" deals with the period
covered by the Old Testament, but it pre-
sents only a few from among those great
missionaries of Testament times whose
lives and work are recorded in the Scrip-
tures. There are countless more, named and
unnamed, whose record is written in heaven
and whose work will be attested to by
redeemed ones in the new earth who are
there because of the sacrifice of those heroes
of faith. Even the writer of Hebrews said
that "time would fail me to tell" of the
multitude of those "of whom the world
was not worthy." Heb. 11:32, 38.
The mission movement seems to be espe-
cially linked to earth's great crisis periods.
Just when it seems that the forces of dark-
ness and evil are about to overcome the
people of God and eliminate the true wit-
nesses from this planet, a counteraction
takes place which fills the earth once again
with the gospel message. This study of how
God used missionary-minded men of the
past is evidence of what He can and will
do today when our lives are yielded to Him.
LESSON OUTLINE
1.
Witness in Past Ages
Acts 14:15-17
2.
Abraham, an Apostle of Faith
Heb. 11:8
3.
Moses and the Establishment
of a Missionary Nation
Deut. 7:6
4.
Jonah, the Reluctant Missionary
Jonah 3:2
5.
Isaiah's View of Missions
Isa. 56:6, 7
6.
Daniel, Witness to Two Great
Empires
Dan. 5:18-21; 6:22
21
LESSON 4
July 24, 1971
THE MASTER OF MISSIONS
4
"As Thou hast sent Me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the
world." John 17:18.
Every missionary except one has exhib-
ited human weakness. That one is, of course,
Jesus. He is the only perfect example of
what a missionary should do and be.
Jesus was a foreign missionary, to a
greater extent than most realize. His effec-
tiveness as a teacher of missionaries made
the first century the greatest ever in the
expansion of Christianity.
The secret of Jesus' success as a mission-
ary is found in His life of prayer and in His
total submissioirfo
-
ttie
—
Fifdaiice of the Holy
Spirit. He demonstrated what God can ac-
complish through us when we, too, are fully
surrendered to His use.
"Jesus revealed no qualities, and exer-
cised no powers, that men may not have
through faith in Him. His perfect humanity
is that which all His followers may possess,
if they will be in subjection to God as He
was."—The Desire of Ages,
page 664.
"Christ has given to His church ample
facilities, that He may receive a large reve-
nue of glory from His redeemed and pur-
chased possession. He has bestowed upon
His people capabilities and blessings that
they may represent His own sufficiency. The
church, endowed with the righteousness of
Christ, is His depositary, in which the
riches of His mercy, His grace, and His
love, are to appear in full and final display."
—Ibid., p. 680.
LESSON OUTLINE
1.
The Power of Christ's Exemplary
Life
Rom. 1:16
2.
Meeting Man's Total Needs
Matt. 4:23
3.
Working With the Despised
John 4:9
4.
Working With the Hopeless
Matt. 15:28
5.
Working With the Unconverted
John 10:16
6.
Training the Disciples to Be
Missionaries
Matt. 28:18-20
29
Part 1
THE POWER OF
CHRIST'S
EXEMPLARY LIFE
Rom. 1:16
❑
Sunday
July 18
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for
it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that
believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek."
Jesus erected no monuments, wrote no books, •held no politi-
cal office. To many His life must have appeared a failure. He
was misunderstood by His own family and finally forsaken by
His friends. He had no home, no wife, no children, and, even
though He was a master carpenter, as far as we know He
possessed no furniture of His own. At the end of His first year
of ministry in the Judean district, He was forced to leave
under the threat that if He ever came back He would be killed.
At the end of His second year •of ministry in Galilee He was
rejected by His own people. During His last year of ministry
some of the despised Samaritans and Gentiles responded, but
at the end of that year He was betrayed by one of His disciples,
crucified, and buried in a borrowed •tomb.
Yet His life changed all history. How did this happen?
Men saw in His life a perfect example of what they might
become if wholly united to God as He was.
What reaction did the ministry of Jesus bring? John
7:46; Luke 11:1.
The Master of Missions
LESSON 4
When the disciples saw the happiness, joy, and peace that
characterized His life in spite of the storms of controversy that
blew about Him, they determined to find the secret of His
power and learn to live as He lived. Almost •two thousand years
later we are still amazed at the power of His exemplary life,
and we still strive to live as He lived.
How did Jesus react to needy humanity? Matt. 14:14.
THINK IT THROUGH
What must happen before Christ's work on earth is
finished, and what must we as individuals do to allow
Him to accomplish this through us?
"The life of the true believer reveals
an indwelling Saviour. The follower of
Jesui
—
ls
—
Chi-igflikTrrispirit and in tem-
per. Like Christ, he is meek and hum-
ble. His faith works by love and purifies
the soul. His whole life is a testimony
to the power of the grace of Christ. The
pure doctrines of the gospel never de-
grade the receiver, never make him
coarse, or rough, or uncourteous. The
gospel refines, ennobles, and elevates,
sanctifying the judgment and influenc-
ing the whole life."—"Testimonies," Vol.
7, p. 67.
30
"Love to man is the earthward mani-
festation of the love of God. It was to
implant this love, to make us children
of one family, that the King of glory
became one with us. And when His
parting words are fulfilled, 'Love one
another, as I have loved you' (John
15:12); when we love the world as He
has loved it, then for us His mission is
accomplished. We are fitted for heaven
;
for we have heaven in our hearts."—
"The Desire of Ages," page 641.
FOR DEEPER STUDY: "The Desire of
Ages," pages 642-645.
The Master of Missions
LESSON 4
Part 2
MEETING MAN'S
TOTAL NEEDS
Matt. 4:23
❑
M'onday
July 19
"And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their
synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom,
and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of
disease among the people."
By healing He met man's physical needs.
By teaching He met man's mental needs.
By preaching He met man's spiritual needs.
Thus Christ set the example of how best to conduct mission-
ary work today. We are to minister to the needs of the whole
man. Actually the physical, mental, and spiritual powers can-
not be isolated or separated. What affects one affects the others.
Therefore, any ministry that comes short of meeting all of
man's needs will be only partial and incomplete. The impera-
tive necessity of combining the health message with the spiri-
tual is pointed out in such quotations as the following:
"True religion and the laws of health go hand in hand. It
is impossible to work for the salvation of men and women
without presenting to them the need of breaking away from
sinful gratifications, which destroy the health, debase the
soul, and prevent divine truth from impressing the mind."—
Testimonies,
Vol. 7, p. 137.
1).
9:2; 10:9.
What instruction did Christ give His followers? Luke
How is last-day evangelism to be accomplished?
Isaiah 58.
"The fifty-eighth chapter of Isaiah contains present truth
for the people of God. Here we see how medical missionary
work and the gospel ministry are to be bound together as the
message is given to the world. Upon those who keep •the Sab-
bath of the Lord is laid the responsibility of doing a work
of mercy and benevolence. Medical missionary work is to be
bound up with the message, and sealed with the seal of God."
—Evangelism,
pages 516, 517.
THINK IT THROUGH
What needs to be done in a practical way in our day
to implement further the instruction found in Isaiah 58?
"Gospel workers should be able . . .
to give instruction in the principles of
healthful living. There is sickness every-
where, and much of it might be pre-
vented by attention to the laws of
health. The people need to see the bear-
ing of health principles upon their well-
being, both for this life and for the
life to come. They need to be awak-
ened to their responsibility for the hu-
man habitation fitted up by their Crea-
tor as His dwelling place, and over
which He desires them to be faithful
stewards."—"Ibid.," p. 525.
FOR DEEPER STUDY: "The Ministry of
Healing," pages 17-25.
31
The Master of Missions
LESSON 4
Part 3
WORKING WITH
THE DESPISED
John 4:9
❑
Tuesday
July 20
"How is it that Thou, being a Jew, askest drink of
me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have
no dealings with the Samaritans."
"The Jews and the Samaritans were bitter enemies, and as
far as possible avoided all dealing with each other. To trade
with the Samaritans in case of necessity was indeed counted
lawful by the rabbis; but all social intercourse with them was
condemned. A Jew would not borrow from a Samaritan, nor
receive a kindness, not even a morsel of bread or a cup of
water. The disciples, in buying food, were acting in harmony
with the custom of their nation. Bu•t beyond :this they did not
go. To ask a favor of the Samaritans, or in any way seek to
benefit them, did not enter into the thought of even Christ's
disciples."—The
Desire of Ages,
page 183.
How did Christ indicate the universal nature of mis-
sions? John 4:23.
"Jesus had begun to break down the partition wall between
Jew and Gentile, and to preach salvation to the world. Though
He was a Jew, He mingled freely with the Samaritans, setting
at naught the Pharisaic customs of His nation. In face of their
prejudices He accepted the hospitality of this despised people.
He slept under their roofs, ate with them at their tables,—
partaking of the food prepared and served by their hands,
—taught in their streets, and treated them with the utmost
kindness and courtesy."—Ibid., p. 193.
What results came from Christ's mission to the Samari-
tans? John 4:39-42.
How
did
Jesus handle a subject of contention between
the two peoples? John 4:20-24.
THINK IT THROUGH
What are the implications of His tactfulness to His
followers today?
"The stay of Jesus in Samaria was
designed to be a blessing to His disci-
ples. . . . Fidelity to Him kept their
prejudices under control; yet in heart
they were unreconciled. They were slow
to learn that their contempt and hatred
must give place to pity and sympathy.
But
after the Lord's ascension, His les-
sons came back to them with a new
meaning. After the outpouring of the
Holy Spirit, they recalled the Saviour's
look, His words, the respect and ten-
derness of His bearing toward these
32
despised strangers. When Peter went to
preach in Samaria, he brought the same
spirit into his own work. When John
was called to Ephesus and Smyrna, he
remembered the experience at Shechem,
and was filled with gratitude to the
divine Teacher, who, foreseeing the
difficulties they must meet, had given
them help in His own example."—
"Ibid.," pp. 193, 194.
FOR DEEPER STUDY: "The Ministry of
Healing," pages 25-28.
The Master of Missions
LESSON 4
❑
Friday
July 23
"And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All
power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth. Go ye
therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever
I hove commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway,
even unto the end of the world."
Part 6
TRAINING THE
DISCIPLES TO
BE MISSIONARIES
Matt. 28:18-20
Christ's commission to His followers throughout time is a
very appropriate conclusion to the Gospel of Matthew, which
stresses Christ's teaching ministry. By His life, as well as by
His teachings, He has taught His followers how to be mission-
aries to the world. Now He commands them to go to every
nation, sharing what they have learned from Him. About 500
followers of Christ were gathered on the mountainside when
Christ repeated this commission to them. See
The Desire of
Ages,
page 818.
"Thus Christ gave His disciples their commission. He made
full provision for the prosecution of the work, and took upon
Himself the responsibility for its success. So long as they
obeyed His word, and worked in connection with Him, they
could not fail. Go to all nations, He bade them. Go to the
farthest part of the habitable globe, but know that My pres-
ence will be there. Labor in faith and confidence, for the time
will never come when I will forsake you.
"The Saviour's commission to the disciples included all the
believers. It includes all believers in Christ to the end of time.
. . . For this work the church was established, and all who
take upon themselves the sacred vows are thereby pledged to
be co-workers with Christ."—The
Desire of Ages,
page 822.
What does God, through the prophet Isaiah, say about
those who fulfill this commission, and what will be the
result of their labors? Isa. 52:7-10.
THINK IT THROUGH
Why has it taken so long for the Christian church to
complete the task Christ assigned?
"It
is
in doing Christ's work that the
church has the promise of His presence.
Go teach all nations, He said
;
'and, lo,
I am with you alway, even unto the end
of the world.' To take His yoke is one of
the first conditions of receiving His
power. The very life of the church de-
pends upon her faithfulness in fulfilling
the Lord's commission. To neglect this
work is surely to invite spiritual feeble-
ness and decay."—"The Desire of
Ages," page 825.
"Words alone cannot tell it. Let it be
reflected in the character and mani-
fested in the life. Christ is sitting for His
portrait in every disciple. Everyone God
has predestinated to be 'conformed to
the image of His Son.' Rom. 8:29. In
everyone Christ's long-suffering love,
His holiness, meekness, mercy, and truth
are to be manifested to the world."—
"Ibid.," page 827.
FOR DEEPER STUDY: "The Desire of
Ages," pages 818-828.
35
LESSON 5
July 31, 1971
THE MARCH OF MISSONS
"And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon
each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak
with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." Acts 2:3, 4.
In the last lesson we studied Christ's
commission to His church. This lesson dem-
onstrates that we cannot fulfill the com-
mission apart from the power of the Spirit.
Witnesses cannot share what they have not
received or tell of that which they have not
experienced. After living with Christ and
learning from Him, they still needed His
Spirit to give them power. He told them
not to go until they had received it. Luke
24:49.
The Acts of the Apostles,
pages 36,
37, gives us the following essential steps the
disciples took in preparing for the reception
of the Holy Spirit:
1.
"Higher and still higher they extended
the hand of faith."
2.
"They humbled their hearts in true
repentance and confessed their unbelief."
3.
"As they meditated upon His
[Christ's] pure, holy life, they felt that no
toil would be too hard, no sacrifice too
great, if only they could bear witness in
their lives to the loveliness of Christ's char-
acter."
4.
They "prayed with intense earnest-
ness for a fitness to meet men and in their
daily intercourse to speak words that would
lead sinners to Christ."
5.
"Putting away all differences, all de-
sire for the supremacy, they came close to-
gether in Christian fellowship."
6.
"They did not ask for a blessing for
themselves merely. They were weighted
with the burden of the salvation of souls."
Aren't these same steps the key to our
full reception of the gift of the Holy Spirit?
What were the results? "The Spirit came
upon the waiting, praying disciples with a
fullness that reached every heart. . . . And
what followed? The sword of the Spirit,
newly edged with power and bathed in the
lightnings of heaven, cut its way through
unbelief. Thousands were converted in a
day."—The Acts of the Apostles,
page 38.
LESSON OUTLINE
1.
The Missionary Commitment of
the Early Church
Acts 1:8
2.
The Apostles' Early Missionary
Efforts
1 John 1:3
3.
Peter's Missionary Vision
Acts 10:34
4.
Paul, the Pattern for Missionary
Service
Rom. 1:1
5.
John's Missionary Emphasis
John 1:12
6.
Witnessing in All Ages
Rev. 12:11
37
The March of Missions
LESSON 5
❑
Sunday
July 25
Part 1
"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost
THE MISSIONARY is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto Me
COMMITMENT OF both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and
THE EARLY CHURCH unto the uttermost part of the earth."
Acts 1:8
"The disciples were to begin their work where they were.
The hardest and most unpromising field was not to be passed
by. So every one of Christ's workers is to begin where he is....
"But the command, `Go ye into all the world,' is not to be
lost sight of. . . . He teaches us to look upon every needy soul
as our brother, and the world as our field."—The
Desire of
Ages,
pages 822, 823.
Ezek. 47:6-12 gives a picture of the work that God designed
to accomplish through ancient Israel. How can this same de-
scription be applied to the church of the first century?
"The church beheld converts flocking to her from all direc-
tions. Backsliders were reconverted. . . . Every Christian saw
in his brother a revelation of divine love and benevolence. One
interest prevailed; one subject of emulation swallowed up all
others. The ambition of the believers was to reveal the likeness
of Christ's character and to labor for the enlargement of His
kingdom."—The
Acts of the Apostles,
page 48.
Note how the book of Acts traces the growth of the early
church.
Acts 1:15-120 believers
2:41-3,000 added
4:4-5,000 believed
4:32—A multitude
5:14—Multitudes
5:28—Filled Jerusalem
6:1—Grecians
8:4-6—City of Samaria
8:25—Villages of Samaritans
11:1—Gentiles believed
11:19-21--Phenice, Cyprus, Antioch
17:6—"Turned the world upside down"
THINK IT THROUGH
What characteristics of the early church need reem-
phasis in our day that we may receive the "great grace"
that "was upon them all"? Acts 4:33.
"If the fulfillment of the promise is
not seen as it might be, it is because
the promise is not appreciated as it
should be. If all were willing, all would
be filled with the Spirit. Wherever the
need of the Holy Spirit is a matter little
thought of, there is seen spiritual
drought, spiritual darkness, spiritual
declension and death. Whenever minor
38
matters occupy the attention, the divine
power which is necessary for the growth
and prosperity of the church, and which
would bring all other blessings in its
train, is lacking, though offered in in-
finite plenitude."—"The Acts of the
Apostles," page 50.
FOR DEEPER STUDY: "The Acts of the
Apostles," pages 30-34.
The March of Missions
LESSON 5
❑
Monday
July 26
"That which we have seen and heard declare we unto
you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly
our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son
Jesus Christ."
If tradition can be relied upon at all, every book in the
New Testament except James was written by a foreign mis-
sionary. It is commonly understood that Peter, Paul, Mark,
Luke, and John were foreign missionaries; but what about the
other New Testament workers?
'Matthew—Tradition assigns him to Parthia and Persia.
James—Probably the stepbrother of Jesus—possibly mar-
tyred in Jerusalem.
Jude—Said to have preached in Palestine, Syria, and Arabia.
How widespread was the witness on the Day of Pente-
cost? Acts 2:9-11.
The language of the books of the New Testament is not the
Aramaic of Palestine, but the most-used language of the New
Testament world—Greek. The map of the early Christian world
reveals the apostles' widespread missionary journeys. All of
Christ's disciples accompanied Him on His foreign missionary
tours, and many of them later became foreign missionaries.
Besides those listed above, it is thought that Peter's brother,
Andrew, preached the gospel in Scythia and Thrace. Tradition
indicates that Nathanael (or Bartholomew) preached in Arabia
and possibly Ethiopia. Philip is said to have ministered in
Phrygia in Asia Minor. Simon is thought to have preached in
North Africa, and Thomas is considered to be the one who
carried the gospel to Persia and India.
Nicodemus became poor in this world's goods because he
put his great wealth into the missionary endeavor of the early
church. See
The Acts of the Apostles,
page 105.
What work did Philip, one of the seven deacons, do
as a missionary? Acts 8:4-40.
THINK IT THROUGH
What share do I have in the gospel commission?
Part 2
THE APOSTLES'
EARLY
MISSIONARY
EFFORTS
1 John 1:3
1).
"The unselfish labor of Christians in
the past should be to us an object les-
son and an inspiration. The members
of God's church are to be zealous of
good works, separating from worldly
ambition and walking in the footsteps
of Him who went about doing good.
With hearts filled with sympathy and
compassion, they are to minister to
those in need of help, bringing to sin-
ners a knowledge of the Saviour's love.
Such work calls for laborious effort, but
it brings a rich reward."—"The Acts of
the Apostles," pages 109, 110.
FOR DEEPER STUDY: "The Acts of the
Apostles," pages 105-111.
39
The March of Missions
LESSON 5
❑
Tuesday
July 27
Part 3
"Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth
PETER'S I perceive that God is no respecter of persons."
MISSIONARY
Acts 10:34
VISION
to take the gospel to the Roman centurion Cornelius in Caesa-
rea. At that time Peter shared the reluctance of Christ's fol-
While Peter was staying at Joppa, he was called by God
lowers to carry the gospel to the Gentiles. In order to help
Peter and his associates overcome the concept of exclusion,
God gave him a vision.
Read the vision as described in Acts 10:9-16.
Read about Peter's understanding of the vision in Acts
11:5-18.
"On hearing this account, the brethren were silenced. Con-
vinced that Peter's course was in direct fulfillment of the plan
of God, and that their prejudices and exclusiveness were utterly
contrary to the spirit of the gospel, they glorified God, saying,
'Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto
life.'
"Thus, without controversy, prejudice was broken down, the
exclusiveness established by the custom of ages was abandoned,
and the way was opened for the gospel to be proclaimed to the
Gentiles."—The
Acts of the Apostles,
page 142.
What mistake, in this respect, did Peter make later at
Antioch, and how was he rebuked? Gal. 2:11-21.
"Peter saw the error into which he had fallen, and imme-
diately set about repairing the evil that had been wrought, so
far as was in his power."—/bid., p. 198.
Peter ended his ministry as a foreign missionary in Rome,
being imprisoned there by Nero and martyred about the same
time as Paul. See John 21:18 and
The Acts of the Apostles,
page 537.
THINK IT THROUGH
In what way does Peter's vision at Joppa apply to the
mission of the church today?
"The angel was not commissioned to
tell Cornelius the story of the cross. A
man subject, even as the centurion him-
self, to human frailties and temptations,
was to be the one to tell him of the
crucified and risen Saviour. As His rep-
resentatives among men, God does not
choose angels who have never fallen,
but human beings, men of like passions
with those they seek to save. Christ took
humanity that He might reach hu-
manity. A divine-human Saviour was
needed to bring salvation to the world.
40
And to men and women has been com-
mitted the sacred trust of making
known 'the unsearchable riches of
Christ.' . . . In His wisdom the Lord
brings those who are seeking for truth
into touch with fellow beings who know
the truth. It is the plan of Heaven that
those who have received light shall
impart it to those in darkness."—"The
Acts of the Apostles," page 134.
FOR DEEPER STUDY: "The Acts of the
Apostles," pages 131-142.
❑
Wednesday
July 28
"Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apos-
tle, separated unto the gospel of God."
Christ's purpose for Paul's life of ministry among the Gen-
tiles was made clear to him through the following experiences:
1.
On the road to Damascus—Acts 26:15-18.
2.
When his sight was restored by Ananias—Acts 22:12-16.
3.
In a vision at Jerusalem—Acts 22:17-21.
How did Paul react to divine instructions? Acts 26:19.
The March of Missions
LESSON 5
Part 4
PAUL, THE
PATTERN FOR
MISSIONARY
SERVICE
Rom. 1:1
At Antioch, "As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted,
the Holy Ghost said, Separate Me Barnabas and Saul for the
work whereunto I have called them." Acts 13:2. "Before being
sent forth as missionaries to the heathen world, these apostles
were solemnly dedicated to God by fasting and prayer and the
laying on of hands. Thus they were authorized by the church."
—The Acts of the Apostles,
page 161.
Paul and his fellow laborers conducted three missionary
tours, each reaching out farther than the previous one. Paul's
missionary efforts were characterized by:
1.
Training of young men, such as Timothy, for service.
The Acts of the Apostles,
page 184.
2.
Surrounding the churches he raised up with the "safe-
guards of gospel order."—Ibid., p. 185.
3.
Making even the smallest churches that he raised up "the
object of his constant solicitude."—Ibid., p. 186.
4.
Practical and careful training of new converts.—Ibid.,
pp. 186,187.
5.
A ministry in which "hearts were broken by his presenta-
tion of the love of God, as revealed in the sacrifice of
His only-begotten
Son."—Ibid.,
p. 208.
What testimony did Paul give at the close of his min-
istry? 2 Tim. 4:7, 8.
THINK IT THROUGH
What might be accomplished if every missionary could
be used by God as Paul was?
"In
the solitude of the desert, Paul
had ample opportunity for suiel study
and meditation. He calmly reviewed
his
experience and made sure
work of repentance. He sought God
with all his heart, resting not until he
knew for a certainty that his repentance
was accepted and his sin pardoned. He
longed for the assurance that Jesus
would be with him in his coming min-
istry. He emptied his soul of the preju-
dices and traditions that had hitherto
shaped his life, and received instruc-
tion from the Source of truth. Jesus
communed with him and established
him in the faith, bestowing upon him a
rich measure of wisdom and grace."
—"The Acts of the Apostles," pages 125,
126.
FOR DEEPER STUDY: "The Acts of the
Apostles," pages 201-210.
41
The March of Missions
LESSON 5
❑
Thursday
July 29
Part 5
"But as many as received Him, to them gave He power
JOHN'S to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on
MISSIONARY His name."
EMPHASIS
John 1:12
early church, carrying the gospel to many unentered provinces,
Whereas Paul was the great itinerant missionary of the
John's missionary service seems to have consisted largely of
his pastorate of the Ephesus district.
Where did John work with Philip and Peter in mis-
sionary service? Acts 8:14.
How does this contrast with his former attitudes?
Luke 9:52-54.
John lived longer than did any of the other of the Twelve.
He became known for his confiding love and unselfish devotion.
"He was a powerful preacher, fervent, and deeply in ear-
nest. In beautiful language and with a musical voice he told of
the words and works of Christ, speaking in a way that im-
pressed the hearts of those who heard him. The simplicity of
his words, the sublime power of the truths he uttered, and the
fervor that characterized his teachings, gave him access to all
classes."—The
Acts of the Apostles,
page 546.
In the messages recorded in the book of Revelation, John's
ministry reaches out not only to the churches of Asia Minor
bat to all the world unto the end of time.
"When his voice could no longer testify to the One whom
he loved and served, the messages given him on that barren
coast [Patmos] were to go forth as a lamp that burneth, de-
claring the sure purpose of the Lord concerning every nation
on the earth."—Ibid., p. 571.
Note how Rev. 10:11; 11:1; and 14:6-12 particularly por-
tray the last great missionary movement.
THINK IT THROUGH
What part did Pentecost have in preparing John for
missionary service? Can we have the same kind of prep-
aration through the Holy Spirit today?
"John did not naturally possess the
loveliness of character that his later
experience revealed. By nature he had
serious defects. . . . But beneath all
this the divine Teacher discerned the
ardent, sincere, loving heart. Jesus re-
buked his self-seeking, disappointed his
ambitions, tested his faith. But He re-
vealed to him that for which his soul
longed—the beauty of holiness, the
42
transforming power of love."—"The Acts
of the Apostles," page 540.
"John knew the Saviour by an ex-
perimental knowledge. . . . When he
testified of the Saviour's grace, his
simple language was eloquent with the
love that pervaded his whole being."
—"Ibid.," pp. 544, 545.
FOR DEEPER STUDY: "The Acts of the
Apostles," pages 539-545.
Part 6
WITNESSING IN
ALL AGES
Rev. 12:11
THINK IT THROUGH
❑
Friday
July
30
"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb,
and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not
their lives unto the death."
John had been given a vision of the entire great controversy
between Christ and Satan. He had seen all those who over-
came by Christ's victory on Calvary. He had also witnessed
the history of the first century of Christianity.
What threat hung over the early church? Acts 12:1, 2.
John himself had been cast into a cauldron of boiling oil
upon the orders of the Emperor Domitian, but his life had
been preserved. And even as he wrote the book of Revelation
he was suffering banishment on the barren and lonely isle of
Patmos. Here John was shown the church victorious and
triumphant in spite of the attacks of Satan and his agents
throughout its history.
"Centuries of fierce persecution followed the establishment
of the Christian church, but there were never wanting men
who counted the work of building God's temple dearer than
life itself."—The
Acts of the Apostles,
page 597.
Study carefully the great controversy as it has expanded
during the Christian era down to the time of the remnant or
last witnesses for Christ. Rev. 12:13-17.
Revelation 12:10 describes the victory of Christ over
Satan at the time when He cried out on Calvary, "It is
finished!" (See "The Desire of Ages," page 761.) Why
didn't God end the great controversy at that point in
time, since Satan's defeat was sure?
The March of Missions
LESSON 5
"The commission that Christ gave to
the disciples, they fulfilled. As these
messengers of the cross went forth to
proclaim the gospel, there was such a
revelation of the glory of God as had
never before been witnessed by mortal
man. By the cooperation of the divine
Spirit, the apostles did a work that
shook the world. To every nation was
the gospel carried in a single genera-
tion."—"The Acts of the Apostles," page
593.
"Every member should be a channel
through which God can communicate
to the world the treasures of His grace,
the unsearchable riches of Christ. . . .
There is nothing that the world needs
so much as the manifestation through
humanity of the Saviour's love. All
heaven is waiting for men and women
through whom God can reveal the
power of Christianity. The church is
God's agency for the proclamation of
truth, empowered by Him to do a spe-
cial work
;
and if she is loyal to Him,
obedient to all His commandments,
there will dwell within her the excel-
lency of divine grace. . . .
"It is the privilege of every Chris-
tian, not only to look for, but to hasten
the coming of the Saviour."—"Ibid.,"
p. 600.
FOR DEEPER STUDY: "The Acts of the
Apostles," pages 593-602.
43
The March of Missions
LESSON 5
July 31
Part 7 <> SUMMARY QUESTIONS
<> A TEST OF YOUR STUDY POWER
1. What essential gift to the early church made missionary work successful?
2.
True or False: Most of Christ's original Twelve never became real mis-
sionaries.
3.
What did the vision of the animals in the sheet teach Peter, and what does
it teach us today
4.
Paul was an apostle to
5.
The three angels' messages were given through Peter, Paul, John, Timothy,
Thomas
6.
Memorize and quote Rev. 12:17. Who is the woman?
Who are the remnant of her seed?
(The answers are at the bottom of the page.)
•
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44
LESSON 6
THE MYSTERY OF MISSIONS
"Having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good
pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself." Eph. 1:9.
The term "mystery" as applied to the
gospel has the meaning of "secret," and it
is so translated in the Revised Standard
and some other versions. The mystery of
redemption is something the human mind
is incapable of discovering and can never
fully know without a revelation. We are
discussing here the "mystery" or "secret"
of God in changing wayward men so that
their lives produce the fruits of righteous-
ness. It is the mission of the church to
reveal to a lost world the "mystery" of the
purpose of God.
In this lesson the "Mystery of Missions"
is seen against the background of Scrip-
ture revelation of God's eternal purpose for
the salvation of a lost world. The mystery
of missions is the fulfillment of the proph-
ecy of Rev. 10:7 that in the days of the
seventh trumpet the mystery of God should
be finished. Tracing the term "mystery"
through such passages as Mark 4:11; Eph.
6:19; Col. 1:26, 27; 4:3, it becomes appar-
ent that the "mystery" of God is His deter-
mination to restore man through the plan
of rederription7Tliiss
-
e reaches out to
all through redeemed men revealing the
mystery of God through lives consecrated
to Him and filled with the power of the
Holy Spirit.
LESSON OUTLINE
1.
Christ, the Only Saviour
John 14:6
2.
Salvation Provided for All
John 1:9, 1 Tim. 2:4
3.
The Need for Preaching the
Gospel
Rom. 10:17
4.
Personal Responsibility in
Missionary Service
Ezek. 33:7-9
5.
The Power of the Holy Spirit
Promised
Zech. 4:6
6.
The Unlimited Scope of
Missionary Achievement
John 14:12
45
The Mystery of Missions
LESSON 6
❑
Sunday
August 1
Part 1
"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and
CHRIST, THE ONLY the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me."
John 14:6
SAVIOUR
such forms as the Holy Spirit may choose. Yet it cannot be
Revelation unfolds the ways and the will of God through
separated from Jesus Christ "the way, the truth, and the life."
The ultimate purpose of revelation is man's salvation, and the
way of salvation is rigidly singular. Religion, culture, or life
itself apart from Jesus lacks eternal value.
How does salvation come to mankind? Acts 4:12.
"All the altars and sacrifices, the traditions and inventions
whereby men hope to earn salvation, are fallacies. . . . Christ
is the only sin bearer, the only sin offering."—Ellen G. White
Comments,
SDA Bible Commentary,
Vol. 7, p. 913.
There are, of course, traces and reflections of truth in reli-
gious writings other than Christian, but here we are dealing
with the way salvation is provided. God has provided the only
way through the gift of Christ, and men can be saved only by
what He has done. Certainly there are those who have never
known Christ or taken His name upon their lips who will be
saved. But they will be saved only by what He has made
possible for them.
"Among the heathen are those who worship God igno-
rantly, those to whom the light is never brought by human
instrumentality, yet they will not perish. Though ignorant of
the written law of God, they have heard His voice speaking
to them in nature, and have done the things that the law
required. Their works are evidence that the Holy Spirit has
touched their hearts, and they are recognized as the children
of
God."—The Desire of Ages,
page 638.
Through what instrumentality does God speak to man-
kind? John 14:26.
THINK IT THROUGH
How is God justified in saving those who have never
heard the name of Christ or accepted Him?
"In heaven instruction will be given
to those who, when they died, did not
understand perfectly the plan of salva-
tion. Christ will lead the redeemed ones
beside the river of life, and will open
to them that which while on this earth
they could not understand."—"Selected
Messages," Bk. 1, p. 262.
"Among all nations, kindreds, and
tongues, He sees men and women who
are praying for light and knowledge.
Their souls are unsatisfied; long have
they fed on ashes. . . . The enemy of
46
all righteousness has turned them aside,
and they grope as blind men. But they
are honest in heart and desire to learn
a better way. Although in the depths of
heathenism, with no knowledge of the
written law of God nor of His Son
Jesus, they have revealed in manifold
ways the working of a divine power on
mind and character."—"Prophets and
Kings," page 376.
FOR
DEEPER STUDY:
"The Desire of
Ages," pages 637-641.
Part 2
SALVATION
PROVIDED
FOR ALL
John 1:9;
1 Tim. 2:4
❑
Monday
August 2
"That was the true Light, which lighteth every man
that cometh into the world."
"Who will have all men to be saved,
and
to come
onto
the knowledge of the truth."
God reveals Himself to all men, in all places, and by all
means possible to save all who will yield their sinful lives to
the transforming power of His Spirit. None who are account-
able are without opportunity, none can claim to have had
no light, none can accuse God of failure to provide for their
salvation. Provision for the salvation of all men does not
imply either equal knowledge or, in a sense, "equal oppor-
tunity" for all men. While no one can accuse God of failing
to
provide for his salvation, many will accuse men who
should
have conveyed the revelations of God entrusted to them. See
The Great Controversy,
page 656.
How widespread is God's offer to mankind? Thus
2:11; Rom. 1:20.
The Mystery of Missions
LESSON 6
"Sufficient light and evidence will be given to every
soul. If
men are overcome by the enemy, it will be because they have
hardened their hearts, refusing to listen to the voice of
God."
—Special Testimonies,
Series B, No. 2, p. 20.
Since salvation is made possible for all men through
Jesus
Christ, and each individual receives some light, our
standing
before God depends on the use we make of the light
we
have
individually received. "He has given light and life to all,
and
according to the measure of light given, each is to be
judged.
And He who has given the light, He who has followed
the
soul with tenderest entreaty, seeking to win it from sin
to
holiness, is in one its Advocate and Judge."—The
Desire of
Ages,
page 210.
What are some of the means God will use to provoke
inquiry on the part of non-Christian peoples? Joel 2:28-32.
THINK IT THROUGH
With whom does the ultimate responsibility rest in
deciding whether an individual will be saved or lost?
"As through
Christ every human be-
ing has life, so also through Him every
soul receives some ray of divine light.
Not only intellectual but spiritual
power, a perception of right, a desire
for goodness, exists in every heart."
—"Education," page 29.
"The Holy Spirit is implanting the
grace of Christ in the heart of many a
noble seeker after truth, quickening his
sympathies contrary to
his
nature, con-
trary to his former education. The 'Light,
which lighteth every man that cometh
into the world,' . . . is shining in his
soul; and this Light, if heeded, will
guide his feet to the kingdom of God.
The prophet Micah said: 'When I sit in
darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto
me. . . . He will bring me forth to the
light, and I shall behold His righteous-
ness.' "—"Prophets and Kings," pages
376, 377.
FOR DEEPER STUDY: "Education,"
pages 28, 29.
47
The Mystery of Missions
LESSON 6
Part 3
THE NEED FOR
PREACHING
THE GOSPEL
Rom. 10:17
❑
Tuesday
August 3
"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the
Word of God."
Considering the universal revelation in nature of the power
of God, the constant witness of the Holy Spirit to the require-
ments of God, and the ministry of angels showing the concern
of God for all men, in what perspective are we to view the
gospel commission?
Some will respond directly to the appeals of God by His
Spirit. But it is evident that God wills that this revelation be
conveyed by humanity in the preaching of the gospel.
We are our brother's keeper. The main channel through
which the revelation of God in Christ is to be preached to the
world is His church. Just as the child in a Christian home,
educated in a Christian school, may be said to have a better
"chance" of being saved than one deprived of such opportu-
nities, so in non-Christian cultures those hearing the preach-
ing of the Word are far more likely to make a saving confes-
sion of Him.
The necessity of preaching.
How the revelation of God in
Scripture or in nature may reach man in his depravity (with
all that the rebellion of the sinful heart implies) seems the
question posed in Romans 10.
Whom will God save? Rom. 10:13.
Knowledge of Christ requires a revelation, and the means
of this revelation is most often the preaching of the Word of
God. "So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard
comes by the preaching of Christ." RSV. But some light
reaches even those who have not heard a specific preaching of
the gospel. Paul declares in a quotation from Psalm 19:4 (re-
ferring originally to revelation hi nature), "Their sound went
into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world."
Rom. 10:18.
To what particular merscje does Rom. 10:18, 20
apply?
THINK IT THROUGH
What is the most effective way to "preach the word"?
"Many are waiting to be person-
ally addressed. In the very family, the
neighborhood, the town, where we live,
there is work for us to do as mission-
aries for Christ. If we are Christians,
this work will be our delight. No sooner
is one converted than there is born
within him a desire to make known to
48
others what a precious friend he has
found in Jesus. The saving and sancti-
fying truth cannot be shut up in his
heart."—"The Desire of Ages," page
141.
FOR DEEPER STUDY: "The Desire of
Ages," pages 141-143.
The Mystery of Missions
LESSON 6
Part 4
PERSONAL
RESPONSIBILITY
IN MISSIONARY
SERVICE
Ezek. 33:7-9
THINK IT THROUGH
❑
Wednesday
August 4
"So thou, 0 son of man, I have set thee a watchman
unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the
word at My mouth, and warn them from Me. When I say
unto the wicked, 0 wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if
thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that
wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will
I require at thine hand. Nevertheless, if thou warn the
wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from
his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast de-
livered thy soul."
How may we affect the probability of an individual's
being saved or lost by our witness? (Note the implications
in this respect of Mark 16:15, 16.)
"There are many who need the ministration of loving Chris-
tian hearts. Many have gone down to ruin who might have
been saved if their neighbors, common men and women, had
put forth personal effort for them."—The
Desire of Ages,
page 141.
How should Christ's response to Nicodemus guide us
in our personal evangelism? John 3:1-10.
If we really believe that people may be lost or saved
by our words, our influence, and the witness of our lives,
will there be a change in our way of living and witness-
ing?
"Heaven stands indignant at the ne-
glect shown to the souls of men. Would
we know how Christ regards it? How
would a father and mother feel, did
they know that their child, lost in the
cold and the snow, had been passed
by, and left to perish, by those who
might have saved it?"—"The Desire of
Ages," page 825.
"It is manifest that the power which
works through the weakness of human-
ity is the power of God; and thus we
are encouraged to believe that the
power which can help others as weak
as ourselves can help us. And those
who are themselves 'compassed with
infirmity' should be able to 'have com-
passion on the ignorant, and on them
that are out of the way.' Heb. 5:2. Hav-
ing been in peril themselves, they are
acquainted with the dangers and dif-
ficulties of the way, and for this reason
are called to reach out for others in
like peril. There are souls perplexed
with doubt, burdened with infirmities,
weak in faith, and unable to grasp the
Unseen; but a friend whom they can
see, coming to them in Christ's stead,
can be a connecting link to fasten their
trembling faith upon Christ."—"Ibid.,"
page 297.
FOR DEEPER STUDY: "The Desire of
Ages," pages 825-827.
49
Part 5
THE POWER
OF THE
HOLY SPIRIT
PROMISED
Zech.
4:6
❑
Thursday
August 5
"Then he answered and spoke unto me, saying, This
is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by
might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord of
hosts."
We cannot do the work of Christ without the Spirit of
Christ. But this has been fully provided, as is attested by the
promises of Christ (John 14 to 16) and the outpouring of
the Holy Spirit on the early church at Pentecost (Acts 2).
That same power •is available now to all who are willing to
be used by the Holy Spirit.
The Mystery of Missions
LESSON 6
How is the promise of the Spirit received? Gal. 3:14.
What is accomplished in us by the Holy Spirit? Eph.
3:16-19.
"Without the Spirit and power of God it will be in vain
that we labor to present the
truth."—Testimonies,
Vol. 5,
p. 158.
But the missionary work of the Seventh-day Adventist
Church is to be culminated by the greatest display of the
Holy Spirit's power the world has ever seen. "Many . . . will
be seen hurrying hither and thither, constrained by the Spirit
of God to bring the light to others. The truth, the Word of
God, •is as a fire in their bones, filling them with a burning
desire to enlighten those who sit in darkness. . . . The Spirit
is poured out upon all who will yield •to its promptings, and,
casting off all man's machinery, his binding rules and cautious
methods, they will declare the truth with the might of the
Spirit's power. Multitudes will receive the faith and join the
armies of the
Lord."—Evangelism,
page 700.
THINK IT THROUGH
How much longer must we wait to see these promises
fulfilled?
"We can be fitted for heaven only
through the work of the Holy Spirit
upon the heart; for we must have
Christ's righteousness as our credentials
if we would find access to the Father.
. . . It is the work of the Holy Spirit to
elevate the taste, to sanctify the heart,
to ennoble the whole man."—"Selected
Messages," Bk. 1, p. 374.
"Many have in a great measure
failed to receive the former rain. They
50
have not obtained all the benefits that
God has thus provided for them. They
expect that the lack will be supplied
by the latter rain. When the richest
abundance of grace shall be bestowed,
they intend to open their hearts to re-
ceive it. They are making a terrible
mistake."—"Testimonies to Ministers,"
page 507.
FOR
DEEPER
STUDY: "Testimonies,"
Vol. 5, pp. 157-159.
The Mystery of Missions
LESSON 6
Part. 6
THE UNLIMITED
SCOPE OF
MISSIONARY
ACHIEVEMENT
John 14:12
❑
Friday
August 6
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on
Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater
works than these shall he do; because I go unto My
Father."
"By this Christ did not mean that the disciples' work would
be of a more exalted character than His, but that it would
have greater extent."—The
Desire of Ages,
page 664.
Jesus did not have available the modern facilities of auto-
mobiles or airplanes which He might have utilized for the
spread of the gospel. In our world today with all these ad-
vantages to aid in finishing God's work on earth, ours is the
privilege of more extensive service for Christ if we will allow
ourselves to be filled with divine power as He did.
"God did not design that His wonderful plan to redeem
men should achieve only insignificant results."—Ibid., p. 667.
Christ ascended to heaven on the resurrection morning, not
only to receive the assurance that His atonement for man had
been accepted, but to receive gifts for His church. See
The De-
sire of Ages,
page 790.
What did Christ make available at His ascension?
Matt. 28:18-20.
"His sacrifice in behalf of man was full and complete. The
conditions of the atonement had been fulfilled; the .work for
which He came to this world had been accomplished. . . .
Clothed with boundless authority, He gave His commission to
the disciples."—The
Desire of Ages,
page 819.
What prediction seems near fulfillment? Isa. 60:1-3.
THINK IT THROUGH
Why are we content with so little when Christ has made
so much available to His people today?
"And still our General, who never
makes a mistake, says to us, 'Advance;
enter new territory; lift the standard in
every land. "Arise, shine; for thy light
is come, and the glory of the Lord is
risen upon thee." ' The time has come
when through God's messengers the
scroll is being unrolled to the world.
The truth contained in the first, second,
and third angels' messages must go to
every nation, kindred, tongue, and peo-
ple; it must lighten the darkness of ev-
ery continent and extend to the islands
of the sea•. There must be no delay in
this work. Our watchword is to be, On-
ward, ever onward! Angels of heaven
will go before us to prepare the way.
Our burden for the regions beyond can
never be laid down till the whole earth
is lightened with the glory of the Lord."
—"Gospel Workers," page 470.
FOR DEEPER
STUDY: "The Desire of
Ages," pages 662-667.
51
ES
Answers: (1) False; (2) transformed; (3) b; (4) watchman, house of Israel; (5) a; (6) Christ
had ascended to His Father.
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THE MOTIVE OF MISSIONS
7
"For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is
laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!" 1 Cor. 9:16.
"Necessity is laid upon me," Paul stated
in his epistle to the Corinthians. The same
necessity is laid upon all who take upon
themselves the name of Christ. "The church
of Christ was organized for missionary pur-
poses."—Gospel
Workers,
page 464. Yet too
often in its history the church has somehow
lost sight of its purpose. If the remnant
people of God are to avoid this error and
retain their missionary objective, individual
members must be motivated with mission-
ary zeal.
this lesson is designed to present the
basis for such motivation, but the stimulus
for motivation comes through the work of
the Holy Spirit on the hearts of men and
not from intellectual acceptance of the
necessity for the preaching of the gospel.
Continued motivation therefore depends on
a close and constant individual yielding to
the Holy Spirit.
The gospel with its saving power must
go to every kindred, nation, people, and
tongue in this generation. "The vineyard
includes the whole world, and every part
of it is to be worked. There are places which
are now a moral wilderness, and these are
to become as the garden of the Lord. The
waste places of the earth are to be culti-
vated, that they may bud and blossom as
the rose. New territories are to be worked
by men inspired by the Holy Spirit. New
churches must be established, new congre-
gations organized. At this time there should
be representatives of present truth in every
city and in the remote parts of the earth.
The whole earth is to be illuminated with
the glory of God's truth. The light is to
shine to all lands and all peoples. And it
is from those who have received the light
that it is to shine forth. The daystar has
risen upon us, and we are to flash its light
upon the pathway of those in darkness."
—Testimonies,
Vol. 6, p. 24.
"The common people are to take their
place as workers. Sharing the sorrows of
their fellowmen as the Saviour shared the
sorrows of humanity, they will by faith see
Him working with
them."—Gospel Work-
ers,
page 38.
LESSON OUTLINE
1.
For the Glorification of God
Matt. 5:16
2.
For the Fulfillment of Christ's
Command
Mark 16:15
3.
For the Hastening of Christ's
Return
2 Peter 3:11, 12
4.
For the Love of Mankind
2 Cor. 5:14
5.
For the Revival of the Church
Eph. 4:11-13
6.
For the Growth of Christian
Character
Eph. 4:15
53
The Motive of Missions
LESSON 7
Part 1
FOR THE
GLORIFICATION
OF GOD
Matt. 5:16
❑
Sunday
August 8
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may
see your good works, and glorify your Father which is
in heaven."
Christ is the source of this light. It is when He is fully
reflected in our lives that our works are recognized as "good."
Because men recognize 'that this kind of works must come from
a source other than the natural human heart, God is glorified
as the source rather than man.
This was the experience of the first Christians, who recog-
nized God's glory in the life and witness of Christ. John 1:14.
Whose glory was reflected in Christ and should be re-
flected in us? John 17:1-5, 22.
Through the glorious light of Christ seen in His followers
the world would be attracted to Him. This experience would
be shared by those who accepted, and thus the witness would
grow. John 17:20-23.
This light cannot be hidden. It just naturally shines out of
happy hearts dedicated to Christ and His service and becomes
the light of the world.
What gives glory to God? John 15:8.
THINK IT THROUGH
If the world lacks light, is it the fault of the world,
or is it because the church is not fulfilling its responsibility
to be the light of the world?
"To His people He says, 'Arise, shine;
for thy light is come, and the glory of
the Lord is risen upon thee.' . . . It is
the darkness of misapprehension of
God that is enshrouding the world. Men
are losing their knowledge of His char-
acter. It has been misunderstood and
misinterpreted. At this time a message
from God is to be proclaimed, a mes-
sage illuminating in its influence and
saving in its power. His character is to
be made known. Into the darkness of
the world is to be shed the light of His
glory, the light of His goodness, mercy,
and truth. "This is the work outlined by
the prophet Isaiah in the words, '0
Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings,
lift up thy voice with strength; lift it
up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of
54
Judah, Behold your God! Behold, the
Lord God will come with strong hand,
and His arm shall rule for Him; behold,
His reward is with Him, and His work
before Him.'"—"Christ's Object Les-
sons," page 415.
"When once the gaze is fixed upon
Him [Christ], the life finds its center.
The enthusiasm, the generous devotion,
the passionate ardor, of the youth find
here their true object. Duty becomes a
delight and sacrifice a pleasure. To
honor Christ, to become like Him, to
work for Him, is the life's highest am-
bition and its greatest joy."—"Educa-
tion," page 297.
FOR DEEPER STUDY: "Christ's Object
Lessons," pages 414-421 (1923 ed.,
pages 423-431).
The Motive of Missions
LESSON 7
Part 2
FOR THE
FULFILLMENT OF
CHRIST'S COMMAND
Mark 16:15
❑
Monday
August
9
"And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and
preach the gospel to every creature."
"Christ's commission, 'Go ye into all the world, and preach
the gospel to every creature,' is spoken to every one of His
followers. . . . All who are ordained unto the life of Christ
are ordained to work for the salvation of their fellowmen.
Their hearts will throb in unison with the heart of Christ. The
same longing for souls that He has felt will be manifest in
them. Not all can fill the same place in the work, but there
is a place and a work for
all."—Christ's Object Lessons,
pages
300, 301.
This quotation points up the fact that missionary motivation
is based on more than the command of Christ as such. It is
also found in the desire and willingness of those whose hearts
"throb in unison with the heart of Christ" to accomplish in
their world that which Christ showed when He ministered to
the needs of a lost world. His was a great heart longing for the
souls of men, and those ,who have His heart transplanted in
them will have the same deep longing for souls that He had.
How did Paul rise above human weakness to fulfill
his commission? 1 Cor. 2:1-4.
Heeding Christ's command to serve as missionary in one's
neighborhood, hometown, or halfway around the world brings
no glory .to the individual. His is an inner compulsion that leads
him to go anywhere or be anything if only Christ's cause can
be advanced. 1 Cor. 9:16.
Toward what reward did the apostle Paul look?
1 Thess. 2:19, 20.
THINK IT THROUGH
Is it possible to be a true follower of Christ and not
share His longing for souls?
"Millions upon millions have never
so much as heard of God or of His love
revealed in Christ. It is their right to
receive this knowledge. They have an
equal claim with us in the Saviour's
mercy. And it rests with us who have
received the knowledge, with our chil-
dren to whom we may impart it, to
answer their cry."—"Education," page
263.
"God calls for men who will push
the triumphs of the cross; men who will
persevere under discouragements and
privations; men who have the zeal and
resolution and faith that are indispens-
able in the missionary field. By perse-
vering toil and a firm trust in the God
of Israel, resolute, courageous men will
accomplish wonders. There is scarcely
a limit to what may be achieved if the
efforts made are governed by enlight-
ened judgment and backed by earnest
endeavor."—"Gospel Workers," pages
469, 470.
FOR DEEPER STUDY: "Christ's Object
Lessons," pages 296-306 (1923 ed.,
pages 300-311).
55
The Motive of Missions
LESSON 7
❑
Tuesday
August 10
"Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved,
what manner of persons ought ye to be in all conversa-
tion and godliness, looking for and hasting unto the com-
ing of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on
fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with
fervent heat?"
Part 3
FOR THE
HASTENING OF
CHRIST'S RETURN
2 Peter 3:11, 12
Just as it was not God's will that the children of Israel
should wander forty years in the wilderness before entering
the promised land •of Canaan, it has not been His will that the
second coming of Christ be so long delayed. "Had the purpose
of God been carried out by His people in giving to the world
the message of mercy, Christ would, ere this, have come to
the earth, and the saints would have received their welcome
into the City of
God."—Testimonies,
Vol. 6, page 450.
"I know that if •the people of God had preserved a living
connection with Him, if they had obeyed His Word, they
would today be in the heavenly
Canaan."—Evangelism,
page
694.
What work is entrusted to God's people? Mal. 4:5, 6.
The whole world is waiting for a revelation of Christ in
His people. Christ also is waiting for this •to happen so that He
can return. We are told: "Christ is waiting with longing desire
for the manifestation of Himself in His church. When the
character of Christ shall be perfectly reproduced in His people,
then He will come to claim them as His
own."—Christ's Object
Lessons,
page 69.
What should our lives reveal about the second coming?
Titus 2:11-14.
Therefore "it is the privilege of every Christian not only to
look for but to hasten the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."
—Ibid.,
p. 69.
THINK IT THROUGH
Are we praying with our lives as well as our lips,
"Even so, come, Lord Jesus"?
"When the members of the church of
God do their appointed work in the
needy fields at home and abroad, in
fulfillment of the gospel commission,
the whole world will soon be warned
and the Lord Jesus will return to this
earth with power and great glory."—
"The Acts of the Apostles," page 111.
It is a very dark picture which our
Saviour draws of events that portend
His second advent to the world. Earth-
quakes, tidal waves, wars, and rumors
56
of war naturally cause men's hearts to
fail them for fear—a fear that their love
of pleasure cannot dispel. Set right in
the midst of this dark picture as a bright
star in a dark night is the declaration
of Jesus that the advance of His gospel
to every kindred and tongue is also a
token of His soon coming to establish
His eternal kingdom of love.
FOR DEEPER STUDY: "Testimonies,"
Vol. 2, pp. 189-192.
The Motive of Missions
LESSON 7
❑
Wednesday
August 11
Part 4
"For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we
FOR THE LOVE thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead."
OF MANKIND
2 Cor. 5:14
Christ. It was the love of Christ that constrained or "held
Paul does not speak in this scripture about his love for
together" or "controlled" the early church. Christ's love in us
compels us to do the very work He would be doing if He
were here where we have been placed. It is true, of course,
that our love for Him leads us to want to accomplish His will
and His work, but this apparently is not what Paul had in
mind in this text. Christ's love in us reaches out to all man-
kind through us. It "constrains" us to give our all for our
fellowmen even as Christ gave His all when He personally
ministered to men.
This is the "treasure" that we have "in earthen vessels."
Therefore we do not credit ourselves with missionary achieve-
ments but recognize that it is Christ accomplishing His purpose
in us, "that the excellency of the power may be of God, and
not of us." "That the life also of Jesus might be made mani-
fest in our mortal flesh." 2 Cor. 4:7, 11.
What ministry has been committed to us? 2 Cor.
5:18-20.
This is accomplished by our allowing His mind to take over
our minds that our every impulse may be but the carrying out
of His will for us. Phil. 2:5.
What sense of urgency grips the faithful worker?
2 Cor. 6:1, 2.
THINK IT THROUGH
What is the constraining, compelling influence in our
everyday lives? What is it that we want more than any-
thing else?
"Oh, that they would now exert their
powers of mind in seeking ways to
approach perishing sinners, that they
might make known to them the path
of holiness, and by prayer and en-
treaty win even one soul to Christ!
What a noble enterprise! One soul to
praise God through eternity! One soul
to enjoy happiness and everlasting
life! One gem in their crown to shine
as a star forever and ever! But even
more than one can be brought to turn
from error to truth, from sin to holiness.
Says the Lord by the prophet: 'And they
that turn many to righteousness [shall
shine] as the stars forever and ever.'
Then those who engage with Christ and
angels in the work of saving perishing
souls are richly rewarded in the king-
dom of heaven."—"Testimonies," Vol.
1, p. 512.
"Our Lord and Saviour asks us to
give ourselves to Him. Surrendering self
to God is all He requires, giving our-
selves to Him to be employed as He
sees fit. Until we come to this point of
surrender, we shall not work happily,
usefully, or successfully anywhere."—
Ellen G. White Comments, "SDA Bible
Commentary," Vol. 6, p. 1101.
FOR
DEEPER STUDY:
"The Ministry of
Healing," pages 156-158.
57
The Motive of Missions
LESSON 7
❑
Thursday
August 12
Part 5
"And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets;
FOR THE REVIVAL and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
OF THE CHURCH for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the min-
istry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: till we all
come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of
the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure
Eph. 4:11-13
of the stature of the fullness of Christ."
As God gives gifts to men, they in turn become the bearers
of these gifts to the church. All His gifts, then, are made pos-
sible .to enable His church better to accomplish the work given
it to do. Each was designed to lead the "body of Christ" to
a higher experience, to the "measure of the stature of the
fullness of Christ." Not simply a building up of the church
in numbers is envisioned, but a building up in the character
of its members. As the church uses its gifts to serve the world,
there is in turn a "perfecting of the saints."
Toward what achievement is the church constantly to
strive? 2 Thess. 1:11, 12.
1).
It has often been stated that the working church is a
growing church and not a problem church, and that the best
way to revive the church is to put the members to work for
others. The law of the universe is that as we give we gain.
See
The Desire of Ages,
pages"20, 21. A giving church is a grow-
ing, gaining church.
The history of the Christian church demonstrates that the
periods of greatest strength and vitality have been those that
coincided with the greatest missionary effort. It is when this
wanes that the church is •in trouble. It might be difficult to
determine which is cause and which is effect. Perhaps it is more
accurate to see both as symptoms of the same basic disease
—loss of zeal and a waning love for Christ. Rev. 2:4.
How may we remedy the spiritual lethargy of the
church? Rev. 3:18-20.
THINK IT THROUGH
"Evangelism," page 356, states: "There is danger of
religion losing in depth that which it gains in breadth."
What does this mean?
"The best medicine you can give the
church is not preaching or sermonizing,
but planning work for them. If set to
work, the despondent would soon forget
their despondency, the weak would
become strong, the ignorant intelli-
gent, and all would be prepared to
present the truth as it is in Jesus."—
"Evangelism," page 356.
58
"When we have entire, wholehearted
consecration to the service of Christ,
God will recognize the
-
faCi
-
by an out-
pouring of His Spirit without measure;
but this will not be while the largest
portion of the church are not laborers
together with God."—"Ibid.," page 699.
FOR DEEPER STUDY: "Testimonies,"
Vol. 2, pp. 165-167.
Part 6
FOR THE GROWTH
OF CHRISTIAN
CHARACTER
Eph. 4:15
❑
Friday
August 13
"But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into
Him in all things, which is the Head, even Christ."
Not only will missionary zeal help restore the church to
its "first love" experience and bring a revival in the church,
but it will also bring about growth of individual Christian
character. In this text "speaking the truth in love" is clearly
connected with "growing up into Him." The truth is preached
in love—not so much by the words as by the lives of those
who are growing up into Christ. "As the tree strikes its roots
down into the soil for nourishment and moisture, so the
growing child of God reaches up to Christ for his vitality and
sustenance. Union with Christ is at once the cause and the
result of growth. He is .the head of each man as well as head
of the church."—SDA
Bible Commentary,
on Eph. 4:15.
What may the Christian expect as the result of unself-
ish service? 1 Thess. 3:12, 13.
The Motive of Missions
LESSON 7
Just as physical growth is dependent upon the use of our
muscles in exercise, so spiritual growth is dependent upon spir-
itual exercise, one manifestation of which is the sharing of our
faith with those who lack faith. The following texts emphasize
the importance of working for others in the development of
Christian experience:
1.
A labor of love-1 Thess. 1-3.
2.
Every man has a work—Mark 13:34.
3.
The parable of the •talents—Matt. 25:14-30.
THINK IT THROUGH
Is there so-called "missionary work" that can hinder
rather than help the Christian's spiritual development?
"Nothing saps spirituality from the
soul more quickly than to enclose it in
selfishness and self-caring. Those who
indulge self and neglect to care for the
souls and bodies of those for whom
Christ has given His life, are not eating
of the bread of life, nor drinking of the
water of the well of salvation. They are
dry and sapless, like a tree that bears
no fruit."—"Evangelism," page 357.
"The Lord Jesus is making experi-
ments on human hearts through the
exhibition of His mercy and abundant
grace. He is effecting transformations
so amazing that Satan, with all his
triumphant boasting, with all his con-
federacy of evil united against God and
the laws of His government, stands
viewing them as a fortress impregnable
to his sophistries and delusions. They
are to him an incomprehensible mys-
tery. The angels of God, seraphim and
cherubim, the powers commissioned to
cooperate with human agencies, look
on with astonishment and joy, that
fallen men, once children of wrath, are
through the training of Christ develop-
ing characters after the divine simili-
tude, to be sons and daughters of God,
to act an important part in the occu-
pations and pleasures of heaven."—
"Testimonies to Ministers," page 18.
FOR DEEPER STUDY: "Thoughts From
the Mount of Blessing," pages 79-83
(1943 ed., pages 119-124).
59
09
Answers: (1) True; (2) through the Spirit's power; (3) dissolved, melt, fervent heat; (4) Christ
Jesus; (5) False; (6) c.
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LESSON 8
August 21, 1971
THE METHOD OF MISSIONS
113
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me, the works that I do
shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto My
Father." John 14:12.
In John 14, 15, and 16 we have what
appears to be our Lord's longest sermon,
given to a small group of disciples just be-
fore His betrayal and crucifixion. Several
thoughts stand out in this conversational
discourse to the eleven:
1.
"The object of Christ's departure was
the opposite of what the disciples feared.
It did not mean a final separation. .
.
While He was building mansions for them,
they were to build characters after the di-
vine similitude."—The
Desire of Ages,
page
663.
2.
Repeatedly in these chapters, He as-
sures them of the coming of the Comforter
after His departure: John 14:16, 18, 26;
15:26; 16:7, 8, 13, 14.
3.
He emphasizes the oneness and unity
in Him (chapter 15), and He prays (chap-
ter 17) that His disciples and all believers
may be one, that they may be sanctified
through the word which He had given
them, and that they might be made perfect.
And then He tells them, "Tarry ye in the
city of Jerusalem" (Luk 24:49) for the
power of witnessing. In this lesson we shall
endeavor to discover if the message, pre-
sentation, and methods of the disciples dif-
fered in any way from those of Christ.
LESSON OUTLINE
1.
Build My Church
Matt.-16:18, 19
2.
Laying the Foundation
Matt. 10:1, 5, 6; Luke 10:1
3.
Early Beginnings
Acts 2:1, 4, 41, 47
4.
Outreach of the Church
Acts 9:15; 10:45
5.
Paul Sent Forth
Acts 13:2, 3
6.
Paul's Message and Methods
1 Cor. 2:2; 9:16; Eph. 3:8;
2 Tim. 1:11
61
The Method of Missions
LESSON 8
❑
Sunday
August 15
Part 1
"And I say also unto thee, That thou .art Peter, and
BUILD MY CHURCH upon this Rock I will build My church; and the gates of
hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto
thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatso-
ever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven:
and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed
Matt. 16:18, 19 in heaven."
We find the word "church" used only in two places in the
four Gospels, here in Matthew 16, and then again in Matthew
18:17. In both instances Jesus is speaking. He says that He
will "build" the church. Just what might that infer? Are we
to understand that the church is going through a sort of evolu-
tion, or does it mean expanding, growing, in organization and
methods as the needs indicate?
In the building of the church universal, what or who
is the foundation? Eph. 2:19-22.
What phases of spiritual work did Christ Himself
emphasize? Luke 7:22; 20:1. Compare Isa. 61:1-3.
THINK IT THROUGH
"'Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which
is Jesus Christ.' 1 Cor. 3:11. 'Upon this Rock,' said Jesus, 'I will
build My church.' In the presence of God, and all the heavenly
intelligences, in the presence of the unseen army of hell, Christ
founded His church upon the living Rock. That Rock is Him-
self,—His own body, for us broken and bruised. Against the
church built upon this foundation, the gates of hell shall not
prevail."—The
Desire of Ages,
page 413.
Arrange the following in two columns under the head-
ings "Things Specified in the NT" and "Things Not Spe-
cified":
Basic organization
Modes of travel
Methods of communication
Travel restrictions
Doctrines
Mode of baptism
Methods of presenting
Dialogue
doctrines
Place of laymen in church
Approach to non-Christians
"During His ministry, Jesus devoted
more time to healing the sick than to
preaching....
"The Saviour made each work of
healing an occasion for implanting
divine principles in the mind and soul.
. . . Christ might have occupied the
62
highest place among the teachers of the
Jewish nation, but He preferred rather
to take the gospel to the poor."—"The
Ministry of Healing," pages 19, 20.
FOR DEEPER STUDY: "The Ministry of
Healing," pages 17-28.
The Method of Missions
LESSON 8
Part 2
LAYING THE
FOUNDATION
Matt. 10:1, 5, 6;
Luke 10:1
❑
Monday
August 16
"And when He had called unto Him His twelve dis-
ciples, He gave them power against unclean spirits, to
cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all
manner of disease."
"These Twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them,
saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any
city of the Samaritans enter ye not: but go rather to the
lost sheep of the house of Israel."
"After these things the Lord appointed other seventy
also, and sent them two and two before His face into
every city and place, whither He Himself would come."
"When the Twelve were sent out on their first separate
mission, other disciples accompanied Jesus in His journey
through Galilee. Thus they had the privilege of intimate asso-
ciation with Him, and direct personal instruction. Now this
larger number also were to go forth on a separate mission. . . .
But the command to the Twelve, not to enter into any city of
the Gentiles or of the Samaritans, was not given to the Seventy.
. . . When the Seventy went forth in His name, they visited,
first of all, the cities of Samaria."—The
Desire of Ages,
page
488.
What promise did Jesus make to His disciples regard-
ing their work as His representatives after He would
leave them? John 14:12.
What preparation did they need before they under-
took their global mission? Mark 16:15; Luke 24:49;
Acts 1:4.
THINK IT THROUGH
Assuming that the Twelve Disciples, judged in the
light of their later leadership in the church, were qualified
and able men, how do you 'account for the restrictions
placed on them when they were first tent out?
"The first disciples went forth preach-
ing the word.... And the Lord worked
with them, 'confirming the word with
signs following.' Mark 16:20. These dis-
ciples prepared themselves for their
work. Before the Day of Pentecost they
met together, and put away all. differ-
ences.. They were of one accord. . . .
They were weighted with the burden
for the salvation of _souls. The gospel
was to be carried to the uttermost parts
of the earth, and they claimed the en-
dowment of power that Christ had
promised. Then it was that the Holy
Spirit was poured out, and thousands
were converted in a.day."—"The Desire
of Ages," page 827.
FOR DEEPER
STUDY:
"The. Desire of
Ages," pages .823-828.
63
The Method of Missions
LESSON 8
❑
Tuesday
August 17
Part 3
"And when the Day of Pentecost was fully come, they
EARLY were all with one accord in one place."
BEGINNINGS
"And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and
began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave
them utterance."
"And the same day there were added unto them about
three thousand souls."
"And the Lord added to the church daily such as
Acts 2:1;4, 41, 47 should be saved."
As a fulfillment of Joel 2:28, 29 we have the mighty thrust
of a revival, the rapid growth of the early church, and a real
fulfillment of Christ's own words •in John 14:12.
From the record in Acts 2:8-11, would you suppose all the
3,000 converts of the Day of Pentecost to be local people?
Following this Pentecost experience and rapid expansion of
the early church, we find a continual growth until soon there
were "about five thousand men." Following this local growth,
we find opposition, and then persecution.
What gave rise to the election of deacons recorded in
Acts 6:1-7?
What reasons can you give for the tide of persecution
that came to the early church? Acts 8:1. Read "The Acts
of the Apostles," chapter 2.
It is most interesting to note that while persecution was
taking place in Jerusalem, Philip (one of the new deacons) was
conducting an evangelistic campaign in Samaria.
THINK IT THROUGH
Thinking back on the Day of Pentecost:
1.
Had the apostles perfected any new organization?
2.
Did they employ any new methods?
3.
Under what circumstances did God choose to pour
out His Spirit?
"During the patriarchal age the influ-
ence of the Holy Spirit had often been
revealed in a marked manner, but
never in its fullness. Now, in obedience
to the word of the Saviour, the disciples
offered their supplications for this gift,
and in heaven Christ added His inter-
cession. He claimed the gift of the
Spirit, that He might pour it upon His
people."—"The Acts of the Apostles,"
page 37.
"The Holy Spirit did for them that
64
which they could not have accomplished
for themselves in a lifetime. They could
now proclaim the truths of the gospel
abroad, speaking with accuracy the
languages of those for whom they were
laboring. . . . From this time forth the
language of the disciples was pure, sim-
ple, and accurate, whether they spoke
in their native tongue or in a foreign
language."—"Ibid.," pp. 39, 40.
FOR DEEPER STUDY:
"The Acts of the
Apostles," pages 35-46.
The Method of Missions
LESSON 8
Part 4
OUTREACH OF THE
CHURCH
Acts 9:15; 10:45
THINK IT THROUGH
❑
Wednesday
August 18
"But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is
a
chosen vessel unto Me, to bear My name before the
Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel."
"And they of the circumcision which believed were
astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that
on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy
Ghost."
The first •twelve chapters of the book of Acts have some-
times been called the Petrine Section, and the remaining chap-
ters the Pauline Section.
The conversion of Saul took place no doubt shortly after
the stoning of Stephen. "Saul remembered with terror that
Stephen . . . had been sacrificed by his consent."—The
Acts of
the Apostles,
page 116. "Christ had performed the work of
revelation and conviction; and now the penitent was in a
condition to learn from those whom God had ordained to
teach His truth."—Ibid., p. 121.
In •the instruction given to Ananias it is interesting to note
that the Lord revealed what was .to be Saul's work and mission
before •it was told or revealed to Saul.
What reason can you assign why the church in Antioch
was the first to be called "Christians"? Acts 11:24-27.
(See final note on this page.)
How would you classify those responsible for the
revival in the Antioch church, ministerial or lay members?
Acts 11:20-27; 13:1.
"And he [Barnabas] went to Tarsus
to seek for Paul, who, after his depar-
ture from Jerusalem some time before,
had been laboring in 'the regions of
Syria and Cilicia.' . . . Barnabas was
successful in finding Paul and in per-
suading him to return with him as a
companion in ministry. . . . And he
proved just the help that Barnabas
needed. For a year the two disciples
labored unitedly in faithful ministry,
bringing to many a saving knowledge
of Jesus of Nazareth, the world's Re-
deemer.
It was in Antioch that the disciples
were first called Christians. The name
was given to them because Christ was
the main theme of their preaching, their
teaching."—"The Acts of the Apostles,"
pages 156, 157.
FOR DEEPER STUDY: "The Acts of the
Apostles," pages 155-165.
65
The Method of Missions
LESSON 8
❑
Thursday
August
19
Part 5
"As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy
PAUL SENT FORTH Ghost said, Separate Me Barnabas and Saul for the work
whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted
and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them
Acts 13:2, 3 away."
Here at Antioch was a most active church, and this church
became the springboard for the notable missionary tours of
Paul and his companions.
No sooner were Saul and Barnabas ordained than they were
sent out, not primarily to the Jews, but to the Gentiles. They
had seen the results of Gentile evangelism in Antioch.
In the Pauline section of the Book of Acts we have mainly
the missionary activity of Paul and his associates. We must
never for a moment conclude that they were the only mission-
aries. All the disciples who lived long after Christ's ascension
became missionaries.
In the brief span of ten or eleven years, Paul planted the
gospel and established churches in Cyprus and at least four
provinces: Galatia, Macedonia, Achaia, and Asia. As far as we
know, the gospel had not penetrated into these provinces before
Paul came, except perhaps in Asia. (See Acts 2:9-11.)
Do you think that Paul followed his own planning in
his endeavor to penetrate these provinces with the gos-
pel? Acts 16:6, 7.
Later on Paul did work in Asia, but never in Bithynia. Can
we assign any reason for the difference? Some have surmised
that Bithynia belonged in the assigned •territory of another;
may it not have been instead that Paul was needed more some-
where else?
In writing to the church in Rome, what did Paul say
about his work in preaching? Rom. 15:19, 23.
THINK IT THROUGH
1.
Who were some of Paul's companions on his mis-
sionary journeys?
2.
Why did it take so many years after Pentecost be-
fore the first missionaries were sent forth? (If Paul and
Barnabas were sent out about A.D. 48, then it could have
been seventeen or eighteen years after Pentecost.)
3.
Why didn't the Protestant missionary movement
start until the close of the eighteenth century?
4.
And why was it 1874 before the first Adventist
missionary was sent overseas?
"For the fifty years preceding 1792,
little attention was given to the work
of foreign missions. No new societies
were formed, and there were but few
churches that made any effort for the
spread of Christianity in heathen lands.
66
But toward the close of the eighteenth
century a great change took place."—
"The Great Controversy," pages 287,
288.
FOR DEEPER
STUDY: "The Acts of the
Apostles," pages 166-169.
The Method of Missions
LESSON 8
Part 6
PAUL'S MESSAGE
AND METHODS
1 Cor. 2:2; Eph.
3:8; 1 Cor. 9:16;
2 Tim. 1:11
❑
Friday
August 20
"For I determined not to know anything among you,
save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified."
"Unto me . . . is this grace given, that I should preach
among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ."
"For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to
glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto
me, if I preach not the gospel!"
"Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apos-
tle, and a teacher of the Gentiles."
We do not think of the New Testament as a thesis, a church
manual, or even a ministerial manual. However, we find that
Paul's letters were written first to churches he himself had a
part in establishing and second to fellow laborers and in one
case a convert. From the human standpoint we would say that
they were dealing with the problems that each faced as regards
doctrine, organization, membership in the church, relationship
one to another, apostasy and rebellion, and the future problems
that he foresaw the church would face. But in a wider sense
the Holy Spirit was speaking through him to Christians to
the end of time.
What gifts, or offices, did God bestow in the church?
1 Cor. 12:28; Eph. 4:11-13.
"God established His instrumentalities among a people who
recognize the laws of the divine government. . . . And He who
gives mental capabilities, and who entrusts talents to the men
and women who are His by creation and redemption, expects
that these talents and capabilities will be increased by use."
—Testimonies,
Vol. 6, p. 243.
THINK IT THROUGH
1. To what extent, do you think, did Paul identify
himself with the people for whom he was working?
1 Cor. 9:22.
2. In the experience of Paul in Athens, what place
does dialogue have? (See "The Acts of the Apostles,"
pages 235, 236.) What change in his work did Paul make
after his experience in Athens? 1 Cor. 2:2.
"A Mightier than Satan had chosen
Saul to take the place of the martyred
Stephen, to preach and suffer for His
name, and to spread far and wide the
tidings of salvation through His blood."
—"The Acts of the Apostles," page 102.
"Paul in his journeys combined home
and foreign missions. Now he is preach-
ing to the Jews in their own place of
worship. Now he is preaching to the
Gentiles, before their own temple and
in the very presence of their gods."
—"Evangelism," page 554.
FOR DEEPER STUDY: "Evangelism,"
pages 42, 71, 141, 227, 230, 231, 246,
327, 328, 358, 369, 370.
67
The Method of Missions
IESSON 8
August 21
Part 7 <> SUMMARY QUESTIONS
G
A TEST OF YOUR STUDY POWER
1.
True or False: When Christ founded the New Testament church, He
specified every detail of organization and method
2.
Complete: "But tarry ye in the city of
until ye be endued
with
from on
11
3.
What effect did the Pentecost experience have on the language of the
disciples ever after
4.
Saul's (Paul's) commission to be an "apostle to the Gentiles" was revealed
(a)
at the Damascus road conversion;
(b)
to Saul while he waited in blind-
ness;
(c)
to Ananias when he was sent to Saul;
(d)
during Paul's three-year
time in Arabia.
5.
True or False: Paul always followed a carefully preplanned itinerary on
his missionary journeys.
6.
Complete: "I am
to all men, that I might by all
some.
(The answers are at the bottom of the page.)'
•
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68
LESSON 9
MISSIONS MISUNDERSTOOD
"In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome
the world." John 16:33.
As we trace the struggle between the
forces of good and evil, from the inception
of evil in heaven until its final eradication,
we are aware of certain outstanding facts:
1.
Satan is doing all in his power to win
support.
2.
Satan can and does employ methods
that God will not use.
3.
As we near the end of time, Satan
works harder.
4.
Satan will do and is doing all in his
power to make men misunderstand God,
His purposes, His kingdom, and His peo-
ple.
5.
If other methods fail, Satan will use
fanaticism. He will tempt men to go to
extremes. One extreme can be as bad as
another. The Jews in Christ's day had gone
to extremes in their religion.
6.
God depends upon His church to rep-
resent Him.
In this lesson we shall study about how
the mission God committed to man has
been misunderstood through the ages. The
question of loyalty to God and His law
has caused trouble from the Fall until our
own time. The three angels' messages focus
on this loyalty; therefore they arouse the
greatest opposition of the ages. Rev. 12:17;
14:6-12.
LESSON OUTLINE
1.
First Human Family
Heb. 11:4
2.
Noah and the Old Testament
Prophets
Heb. 11:7
3.
Christ's Mission Misunderstood
Isa. 53:3
4.
The Apostles Martyred
Matt. 24:9
5.
Remnant Church Persecuted
Rev. 12:12
6.
Individual Persecution
John 15:18; 17:14
69
Missions Misunderstood
LESSON 9
Part 1
FIRST HUMAN
FAMILY
Heb. 11:4
THINK IT THROUGH
❑
Sunday
August 22
"By faith Abel offered unto God .a more excellent sacri-
fice than Cain, by which h"
-
rair
-
ained WM
-
less that
-
he was
1
14fiteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being
dead yet speaketh."
Was there anything wrong in Cain's vocation that led
him into sin or caused his anger? Gen. 4:1-5.
Is there any element of ignorance on Cain's part?
On what basis would you question his motives? After all,
he did offer; he brought what he had and no doubt brought
some of the best. How did Cain know that God didn't accept
his offering?
What influenced Cain to do what he did and to take
such extreme measures? 1 John 3:12.
We have introduced this lesson with Abel because in a
sense he and his brother Cain represent the human race as a
whole. Sin had entered Eden. Our first parents had been ex-
cluded. The controversy between Christ and Satan had begun
in the hearts of men. The world's first two boys are prototypes
of all who have followed. There are the obedient and the dis-
obedient.
"The murder of Abel was the first example of the enmity that
God had declared would exist between the serpent and the
seed of the woman—between Satan and his subjects and
Christ and His
followers."—Patriarchs and Prophets,
page 77.
"Abel grasped the great principles of redemption. He saw
himself a sinner. . . He brought the slain victim, the sacrificed
life, thus acknowledging the claims of the law that had been
transgressed. Through the shed blood he looked to the future
sacrifice. . . . Cain had the same opportunity of learning and
accepting these truths as had
Abel."—Ibid.,
p. 72.
Would considerable time be a factor in helping a per-
son decide for Christ? Would a good environment, such
as Cain and Abel had, be finally decisive for me?
"Cain and Abel represent two classes
that will exist in the world till the close
of time. One class avail themselves of
the appointed sacrifice for sin; the other
venture to depend upon their own mer-
its; theirs is a sacrifice without the vir-
70
tue of divine mediation, and thus it is
not able to bring man into favor
with God."—"Patriarchs and Prophets,"
pages 72, 73.
FOR
DEEPER STUDY:
"Patriarchs and
Prophets," pages 71-79.
Missions Misunderstood
LESSON 9
Part 2
NOAH AND THE
OLD TESTAMENT
PROPHETS
Heb. 11:7
❑
Monday
August 23
"By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not
seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the
saving of his house; by the which he condemned the
world, and became heir of the righteousness which is
by faith."
Genesis devotes more than four chapters to the story of
Noah. Gen. 5:28 to 9:29. In the New Testament God has en-
shrined Noah's name in His Hall of Fame (Heb. 11:7) with
other shining examples of righteousness by faith.
What New Testament evidence can we cite for the
historicity of Noah and the Flood? Matt. 24:37-39; Luke
3:36; 17:26, 27.
"Amid the prevailing corruption, Methuselah, Noah, and
many others labored to keep alive the knowledge of the true
God and to stay the tide of moral evil.... Enoch had repeated
to his children what God had shown him in regard to the
Flood, and Methuselah and his sons, who lived to hear the
preaching of Noah, assisted in building the
ark."—Patriarchs
and Prophets,
page 92.
"Noah and his family were not alone in fearing and obeying
God. But Noah was the most pious and holy of any upon the
earth, and was the one whose life God preserved to carry out
His will in building the ark and warning the world of their
coming doom. Methuselah, the grandfather of Noah, lived until
the very year of the Flood, and there were others who believed
the preaching of Noah, and aided him in building the ark, who
died before the Flood of waters came upon the
earth."—Spir-
itual Gifts,
Vol. 3, p. 65.
What did Jesus accuse the
.
Jews of having done to
the prophets? Matt. 23:37.
How were the servants received in the parable of the
householder? Matt. 21:35, 36. Compare Rom. 11:3.
It was God's Israel that "stoned, mocked, and rejected the
prophets of God" who were
—
SETE
-
T
i o warn, V1.-plead, and en-
deavor to save.
THINK IT THROUGH
What would we have done if we had been living in
that day?
"The Pharisees built the tombs of the
prophets, and adorned their sepulchers,
and said one to another, If we had
lived in the days of our fathers, we
would not have united with them
-
in
3h
-
eV
-
ding te l
'
—
g
--
irO7)aatiod's servants.
. . . It should open our eyes to the
power
-
a§raan
-
to
-
deceive the mind
,
that-turns"-
-
ffsrer=the--lig hf of truth."-
," pa ge
.-
6787
-
FOR DEEPER STUDY: "Patriarchs and
Prophets," pages 90-104.
71
Missions Misunderstood
LESSON 9
Part 3
CHRIST'S MISSION
MISUNDERSTOOD
Isa. 53:3
THINK IT THROUGH
❑
Tuesday
August 24
"He is despised and rejected of men; a Man of sor-
rows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were
our faces from Him; He was despised, and we esteemed
Him not."
"It was the rejection of the messages of the prophets that
brought ruin upon Israel; it led to their refusal to accept their
Messiah, and thus to their rejection as a nation."—SDA
Bible
Dictionary,
page 882.
Does the above statement harmonize with Christ's
rebuke to the people of His day? Matt. 23:29-33.
How did Christ identify the Jews of His day with the
murders of the prophets? Matt. 23:31. Compare Luke
11:47-51.
"Build the tombs.
The martyrs of one generation often be-
come the heroes of the next. While the prophets were alive it
was popular to throw stones at them; after they had been dead
for a time it became popular to set up elaborate stone monu-
ments to commemorate them. The Jews could not honor liv-
ing prophets without accepting their messages, but it was a
simple thing to honor dead prophets without doing
so."—SDA
Bible Commentary,
on Matt. 23:29.
If Christ had come to the people outside of Israel,
would He have been better.yeceived? John
4
1:10, 11.
Not only did the leaders of the Jewish nation misunderstand
Jesus and the purpose of His mission, but also His own mother
had some mistaken ideas
(The Desire of Ages,
page 147) ; His
own brothers disbelieved in Him (John 7:5) ; His disciples
misunderstood much of the purpose of His mission
(The De-
sire of Ages,
page 799), and the priests interpreted against Him
the very words they should have received as evidence of His
divinity
(The Desire of Ages,
page 212).
Was the rejection of Christ by the Jews because of a
lack of understanding of Old Testament prophecies re-
garding the time, manner, and circumstances of His
coming?
"There was never one who walked
among men more cruelly slandered
than the Son of Man. He was derided
and mocked because of His unswerving
obedience to the principles of God's
holy law. They hated Him without a
72
cause."—"Thoughts From the Mount of
Blessing," 1956 edition, page 32.
FOR DEEPER STUDY: "Thoughts From
the Mount of Blessing," pages 31-35
(1943 ed., pages 53-58).
Missions Misunderstood
LESSON 9
Part 4
THE APOSTLES
MARTYRED
Matt. 24:9
❑
Wednesday
August
25
"Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and
shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for
My name's sake."
These words of Jesus to His disciples warned them what
they might expect to experience as His representatives:
a.
Intense hatred by the Gentile nations as well as by the
Jews.
b.
Persecution and torture.
c.
Death.
And Christ indicates the reason for all this—"for My name's
sake." In other words, it would be most unpopular to identify
oneself with the cause of Christ.
What reason can you give for the martyrdom of
Stephen? Acts 6:9-15.
"Priests and rulers were beside themselves with anger. Act-
ing more like beasts of prey than human beings, they rushed
upon Stephen, gnashing their teeth."—The
Acts of the Apostles,
page 100.
Remember this happened just over three years after the
crucifixion of Christ. What would we have done?
What was the occasion for the martyrdom of James?
Acts 12:1, 2.
Just why God permitted James to be beheaded, delivered
Peter miraculously (Acts 12:6-11), and struck Herod down
(verse 23), we do not know. This Herod (Agrippa I) was a
grandson of Herod the Great and a nephew of Herod Antipas
who had ordered the beheading of John the Baptist. He had
a son by the same name—Herod (Agrippa II)—whom we meet
in Acts 26 in the experience of Paul. Herod Agrippa I met his
death around
A.D.
44. See
SDA Bible Commentary,
Vol. 5, pp.
63-69.
THINK IT THROUGH
What reasons can you give for the prejudice, persecu-
tion, and trials which the apostles endured?
"Paul attained to the full moral stat-
ure of a man in Christ Jesus. By what.
a process was his soul developed! His
life was a continual scene of hardship,
conflcit, and toil. [2 Cor. 11:26, 27
quote" ."—Ellen G. White Comments,
"SDA Bible Commentary," Vol. 7, p.
903.
"Gain courage from the experience
of the apostle Paul. He had many trials.
. . . Far harder than ours was his lot.
... But Paul allowed nothing to hinder
him from his work."—Ellen G. White
Comments, "SDA Bible Commentary,"
Vol. 6, p. 1106.
FOR DEEPER STUDY: "The Acts of the
Apostles," pages 143-154.
73
Missions Misunderstood
LESSON 9
Part 5
REMNANT CHURCH
PERSECUTED
Rev. 12:12
THINK IT THROUGH
❑
Thursday
August 26
"Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in
them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the seal
for the devil is come down unto you having great wrath,
because he knoweth that he hath but a short time."
"There was rejoicing in heaven, for the angels and the in-
habitants of other worlds knew Satan was doomed by Christ's
victory at Calvary.
"Woe.
For the church there was further persecution, hence
its members could not yet rejoice."—SDA
Bible Commentary,
on Rev. 12:12.
Satan was angry because of his defeat. His hostility to Christ
continued in the form of intense persecution of 'Christ's fol-
lowers. But now he is conscious of the shortage of time. Against
whom is Satan especially directing his assaults? Rev. 12:17.
"Satan sees that his time is short. He has set all his agencies
at work that men may be deceived, deluded, occupied and
entranced, until the day of probation shall be ended, and the
door of mercy be forever shut."—The
Desire of Ages,
page 636.
What reasons can you give for identifying Seventh-day
Adventists with the remnant church of. Rev. 12:17?
"The commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus is
the message we have •to bear to the
world."—Selected Mes-
sages,
Bk. 2, p. 88.
"In this day, when we are bidden to call attention to the
commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, we see the same
enmity as was manifested in the days of Christ."—The
Desire
of Ages,
page 398.
What in your thinking are the real reasons why this
enmity is generated against the remnant church? Isn't
the remnant church a fulfillment of prophecy? Why
should the fourth commandment be such a point of
controversy?
"As the message of Christ's first ad-
vent announced the kingdom of His
grace, so the message of His second
advent announces the kingdom of His
glory. And the second message, like
the first, is based on the prophecies."
—"The Desire of Ages," page 234.
"The warfare against God's law,
74
which was begun in heaven, will be
continued until the end of time. Every
man will be tested. Obedience or dis-
obedience is the question to be de-
cided by the whole world."—"Ibid.,"
page 763.
FOR DEEPER STUDY: "The Great Con-
troversy," pages 582-586.
Missions Misunderstood
LESSON 9
D
Friday
August 27
"If the world hate you, ye know that it hated Me
before it hated you."
"I have given them Thy word; and the world hath
hated them, because they are not of the world, even as
I am not of the world."
Part 6
INDIVIDUAL
PERSECUTION
John 15:18; 17:14
Earlier in our lesson, we discovered that the chosen people
of God at the time of Christ misunderstood
aria
actually
-
Nated
rfrrisr to the point of murder That hatred was actiTraTrd
•
ly
—
tsy
—
fli
fFTWrist lived. It was a continual
rebuke, especially to the teachers and leaders of Israel.
In our day what adds to the hatred of the enemy of
souls against the individual child of God? Rev. 12:12;
1 Peter 5:8.
We must ever keep in mind that the church is people, not
some abstract organization or thing. Satan's attacks against the
church will not be primarily to destroy the building as a
whole, (Eph. 2:19-22), to demolish the entire structure. He
will seek to loosen one stone here, to cause a crack there,
perhaps to weaken the mortar that holds the stones together.
"In this last meeting with His disciples, the great desire
which Christ expressed for them was that they might love one
another as He had loved them. . . . The command to love one
another had a new meaning in the light of His self-sacrifice....
"This love, manifested in the church, will surely stir the
wrath of Satan. Christ did not mark out for His disciples an
easy path. [John 15:18 quoted.] . . . The gospel is to be car-
ried forward by aggressive warfare, in the midst of opposition,
peril, loss, and suffering. But those who do this work are only
following in their Master's steps."—The
Desire of Ages,
pages
677, 678.
THINK IT THROUGH
Is it possible to be hated and yet respected for one's
conscientious convictions?
"Ever since his fall, Satan has worked
by means of deception. As he had mis-
represented God, so, through his agents,
he misrepresents the children of God."
—"Thoughts From the Mount of Bless-
ing," page 31.
"Zechariah's vision of Joshua and
the
Angel [Zech. 3:1-5] applies with pe-
culiar force to the experience of God's
people in the closing scenes of the
great day of atonement.... Those who
keep the commandments of God and
the faith of Jesus will feel the ire of
the dragon and his hosts."—"Prophets
and Kings," page 587.
FOR DEEPER STUDY: "The Great Con-
troversy," pages 589-592.
75
9L
Answers: (1) God still requires obedience; (2) he died the year of the Flood; (3) it was hypocrisy
because they ignored the messages of the same prophets; (4) Stephen; (5) obedience or disobe-
dience; (6) d.
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September 4, 1971
LESSON 10
MONEY AND MISSIONS 10
"Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live
of the gospel." 1 Cor. 9:14.
LESSON OUTLINE
"All that we do is to be done willingly.
We are to bring our offerings with joy and
gratitude, saying as we present them, Of
Thine own we freely give Thee. The most
costly service we can render is but meager
compared to the gift of God to our world.
Christ is a gift every day. God gave Him
to the world, and He graciously takes the
gifts entrusted to His human agents for
the advancement of His work in the world.
Thus we show that we recognize and ac-
knowledge that everything belongs to God,
absolutely and entirely."—Counsels
on
Stewardship,
page 198.
In this lesson we shall confine our study
to the stewardship of the monetary means
of the gospel, which God has so plentifully
placed in the hands of His children.
1. Stewardship in the Old
Testament
Ps. 24:1
2. Stewardship as Lived and
Taught by Christ
2 Cor. 8:9
3. Stewardship as Practiced in the
Early Church
1 Cor. 9:14
4. Love for the Lost and Needy
Inspires Sacrifice
2 Cor. 5:14
5. Mission Involves Stewardship
Rom. 10:14, 15
6. Rewards of Stewardship
2 Cor. 9:7
77
❑
Sunday
August
29
"The earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof; the
world, and they that dwell therein."
"Having sinned, man was sentenced to earn his livelihood
by the sweat of his face (Gen. 3:17-19), and .there was danger
that he would come to say in his heart, 'My power and the
might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth' (Deut. 8:17),
whereas in reality it was God who had given him the power
to get it (Deut. 8:18). . . . By paying tithe man acknowledges
that he is a steward of God, the owner of all things.. . . Even
prior to the entrance of sin the danger of forgetfulness was
latent in man's character, and as a test God forbade man to
eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil (Gen. 2:17),
claiming it as His
own."—SDA Bible Dictionary,
pages 1102,
1103.
What is the earliest Biblical record of tithing, by
whom, to whom, and for what purpose? Gen. 14:18-20.
"The tithing system reaches back beyond the days of Moses.
Men were required to offer to God gifts for religious purposes,
before the definite system was given to Moses, even as far
back as the days of Adam. . . . This was continued through
successive generations, and was carried out by Abraham, who
gave tithes to Melchizedek, the priest of the most high God.
The same principle existed in the days of Job."—Ellen G. White
Comments,
SDA Bible Commentary,
Vol. 1, p. 1093.
What provision did God make for the support of the
priesthood? Lev. 27:30; Num. 18:21.
Was the tithe all that God expected of Israel? Ps.
96:8, 9.
How did the last Old Testament prophet classify those
who do not pay an honest tithe or give offerings? Mal.
3:8-10.
THINK IT THROUGH
Is tithe paying a matter of conscience? Is it a sacri-
fice?
Money and Missions
LESSON 10
Part 1
STEWARDSHIP
IN THE OLD
TESTAMENT
Ps.
24:1
"One of the greatest sins in the
Christian world of today is dissem-
bling and covetousness in dealing with
God....
"If all, both rich and poor, would
bring their tithes into the storehouse,
there would be a sufficient supply of
78
means to release the cause from finan-
cial embarrassment and to nobly carry
forward the missionary work in its
various departments."—"Testimonies."
Vol. 4, pp. 475, 476.
FOR DEEPER STUDY:
"Patriarchs and
Prophets," pages 525-529.
Money and Missions
LESSON 10
Part 2
STEWARDSHIP
AS LIVED AND
TAUGHT BY CHRIST
2 Cor. 8:9
❑
Monday
August 30
"For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that,
though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor,
that ye through His poverty might be rich."
Christ, the Son of God, became the Son of man, that we,
born sons of men, might become the sons of God. 1 John 3:1, 2.
We pause a moment to reflect on the motivation of Christ.
He didn't have to come to this world. We poor mortals think
so often in terms of "Do I have •to do this?" "Am I required
to do •that?" et cetera. Someone says, "But there is no New
Testament command to pay tithe!"
What did Christ say in regard to tithing? Matt. 23:23.
Christ states clearly that while there were weightier mat-
ters, tithing ought not •to be neglected.
"The rebuke of Christ to the Pharisees is applicable to those
who have lost from the heart their first love. A cold, legal
religion can never lead souls to Christ; for it is a loveless,
Christless religion. When fastings and prayers are practiced in
a self-justifying spirit, •they are abominable to God. . . . These
things call attention to the observer of rigorous duties, saying,
This man is entitled to heaven. But it is all a deception. Works
will not buy for us an entrance into heaven."—Ellen G. White
Comments,
SDA Bible Commentary,
Vol. 5, p. 1098.
How did Christ tell one young man in His day to
become involved in practical Christianity? Matt. 19:16-22.
THINK IT THROUGH
If the rich young ruler had sold his possessions and
distributed to the poor, either directly or through an or-
ganization, in what ways would he have been blessed?
What about those who do not have possessions?
"God's plan in the tithing system is
beautiful in its simplicity and equality.
All may take hold of it in faith and
courage, for it is divine in its origin. In
it are combined simplicity and utility,
and it does not require depth of learn-
ing to understand and execute it. All
may feel that they can act a part in
carrying forward the precious work of
salvation. Every man, woman, and
youth may become a treasurer for the
Lord, and may be an agent to meet
the demands upon the treasury."—
"Counsels on Stewardship," page 73.
FOR DEEPER STUDY: "Counsels on
Stewardship," pages 101-103.
79
THINK IT THROUGH
LESSON 10
❑
Tuesday
August 31
"Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach
the gospel should live of the gospel."
The disciples were merely following the instruction given by
Christ when He sent out the Twelve early in His ministry:
"For the workman is worthy of his meat." Matt. 10:10. Luke
has it, "The laborer is worthy of his hire." Luke 10:7. The
Twelve were not to take along money, provisions, or extra
clothing; they were to expect to be entertained by the people
for whom they worked.
"The principle of tithe paying is also tacitly approved by the
writer of the book of Hebrews (see ch.
7:8)."—SDA Bible
Dictionary,
page 1104.
In the epistles and letters of the New Testament, we find
two types of references to finance in connection with the
churches and/or ministry: first, the support of the ministry,
and second, collections for the relief .of the poor saints.
What reasoning does Paul use to justify not accepting
support from the Corinthian church in either tithe or offer-
ings? 1 Cor. 9:13-18.
"As a gospel minister, it was Paul's privilege to claim a sup-
port from those for whom he labored. But though he became
the servant of all, yet he worked with his hands to support
himself, that none might find occasion to charge him with
selfishness. He did not receive wages for his labor, though
as a minister of the gospel this was his right. Thus he made it
evident that he was working for souls, not for money."—Ellen
G. White Comments,
SDA Bible Commentary,
Vol. 6, p. 1088.
How does Paul indicate that he had received support
from churches other than the one at Corinth? 2 Cor.
11:8, 9.
There is reason to believe that members of the church at
Corinth were rather well-to-do. Perhaps Paul intended a slight
rebuke, that they had been somewhat negligent in entertaining
him. Evidently there were times when he had been in want.
What was the economic experience of the early church
in Jerusalem, as recorded in Acts 4:32-35? Why was it
necessary for God to give them the lesson of Ananias
and Sapphira?
Money and Missions
Part 3
STEWARDSHIP AS
PRACTICED BY
THE EARLY CHURCH
1 Cor. 9:14
"Not to the early church only, but to
all future generations, this example
[Ananias and Sapphire] of God's hatred
of coveteousness, fraud, and hypocrisy,
80
was given as a danger signal."—"The
Acts of the Apostles," page 74.
FOR DEEPER STUDY: "The Acts of
the
Apostles," pages 70-76.
Money and Missions
LESSON 10
❑
Wednesday
September I
Part 4
LOVE FOR THE
LOST AND NEEDY
INSPIRES SACRIFICE
2 Cor. 5:14
"For the love of Christ constraineth us."
It is not enough for us to realize that we "have this trea-
sure in earthen vessels" (2 Cor. 4:7) ; we must have the moti-
vating power that Christ had.
What actuated Christ in His entire earthly ministry?
John
3:16;
2:17.
r;•
"I am so thankful for the medical missionary work, carried
in gospel lines. It is to be taught, it is to be carried forward;
for it is the very work that Christ did when on this earth. He
was the greatest •Missionary the world ever
saw."—Medical
Ministry,
page
15.
What was Paul's attitude toward his stewardship of
the gospel? Rom. 1:14.
Paul refers in many places to his concern for the salvation
of the lost:
1.
In thinking of his own kinsmen, the Jews, he could wish
that he himself were accursed, if by that means he might save
some. Rom. 9:2, 3 ; 10:1.
2.
To the Gentiles he speaks about magnifying his office as
apostle if thus he might save some. Rom. 11:13, 14.
3.
And again, he talks about being "all things to all men,
that I might by all means save some." 1 Cor. 9:22. Giving of
our means involves consecration and love for the cause, the
object of our giving. Paul was pleading with the Corinthian
members for a liberal offering for the saints in Jerusalem. And
in so doing he "laid no command upon the Corinthian brethren.
But he set before them the necessity of the church at Jerusa-
lem, and showed what others had given who had fewer advan-
tages and less ability than had the Corinthians. He presented
the example of others, to induce them to give."—Ellen G. White
Comments,
SDA Bible Commentary,
Vol. 6, p. 1103.
THINK IT THROUGH
How do I show my love for my Saviour?
"Those only live for Christ and honor
His name who are true to their Master
in seeking to save that which is lost.
... If our hearts are softened and sub-
dued by the grace of Christ, . . . there
will be a natural outflow of love, sym-
pathy, and tenderness to others."—
"Testimonies," Vol. 5, p. 606.
FOR DEEPER STUDY: "The Acts of the
Apostles," pages 341-345.
81
Money and Missions
LESSON 10
❑
Thursday
September
2
Part 5
"How then shall they call on Him in whom they have
MISSIONS INVOLVE not believed? and how shall they believe in Him of whom
STEWARDSHIP they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a
preacher? and how shall they preach, except they be
sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them
that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings
Rom. 10:14, 15 of good things!"
"If we indeed have the truth for these last days, it must
be carried to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. Erelong
the living and the dead are to be judged according to the deeds
done in the body, and the law of God is the standard by which
they are to be tested. Then they must now be warned; God's
holy law must be vindicated, and held up before them as a
mirror. To accomplish this work, means is needed. I know that
times are hard, money is not plenty; but the truth must be
spread, and money to spread it must be placed in the
trea-
sury."—Historical Sketches,
pages 291, 292.
How many of Christ's parables can you think of that
involve value, money, costs, investments, and steward-
ship?
THINK IT THROUGH
Examples are "Hidden Treasure" (Matt. 13:44) and "Pearl
of Great Price" (Matt. 13:45, 46).
Earlier in this lesson we read in 2 Cor. 4:7 that we are
stewards of the gospel, having "this treasure in earthen vessels."
Paul admonishes us to pray for the apostles (missionaries).
2 Thess. 3:1, 2.
Christ admonished His disciples to give freely because they
had received freely. Matt. 10:8.
Paul indicated that there must be "first a willing mind" in
giving. 2 Cor. 8:12.
What responsibility does the sending church have
toward the ones sent? 1 Cor. 9:7-14.
How many workers has your church given to the
cause? How many were home missionaries and how
many foreign missionaries?
Can churches in every country become sending
churches, sooner or later?
"Is not the missionary work that is
to be done in our world of sufficient im-
portance to command our influence and
support? Should we not deny ourselves
of every extravagance, and put our
gifts into the treasury of God, that the
82
truth may be sent into other countries,
and that home missions may be sus-
tained?"—"Christian Service," page
221.
FOR DEEPER STUDY:
"Testimonies,"
Vol. 9, pp. 49-53.
Money and Missions
LESSON 10
❑
Friday
September 3
Part 6
"For we are laborers together with God: ye are
REWARDS OF God's husbandry, ye are God's building."
STEWARDSHIP
1 Cor. 3:9
or vision, nor are they all evangelistic in outlook. The Advent-
Not all Christian communions are universal in their scope
ist concept stems from the gospel commission of Matt. 28:18-20
and from the three angels' messages of Revelation 14. The
angels of Revelation 14 are flying. This indicates the urgency
of the message which is to go to the entire world. The same
spirit that actuated Christ will possess the remnant church
as they become "laborers together with God."
What reward may the missionary expect both here
and hereafter? Mark 10:28-30.
According to what standard does God reward us?
Luke 6:38.
God is lavish in the way He bestows His blessings on us.
Is there reason to believe that He will not reward us in the
same way? See 1 Tim. 6:17.
What principle did Paul lay down in his letter to the
Corinthian church? 2 Cor. 9:6, 7.
What contrast did Jesus draw between the gifts of
the rich and that of the "poor widow"? Mark 12:42-44;
Luke 21:2-4.
THINK IT THROUGH
"She did what she could, and her act was to be a monument
to her memory through all time, and her joy in eternity. Her
heart went with her gift; its value was estimated, not by the
worth of the coin, but by the love to God and the interest in
His work that had prompted the deed."—The
Desire of Ages,
page 615.
How does my account stand in heaven's bank? If I'm
not drawing any interest, or not enough, what might be
the cause?
"God's people have a mighty work
before them, a work that must con-
tinually rise to greater prominence. Our
efforts in missionary lines must become
far more extensive. A more decided
work than has been done must be done
prior to the second appearing of our
Lord Jesus Christ. God's people are not
to cease their labors until they shall en-
circle the world."—"Testimonies," Vol.
6, pp. 23, 24.
FOR DEEPER
STUDY: "Testimonies,"
Vol. 9, pp. 53-59.
83
Vs
Answers: (1) if all would pay tithe; (2) definitely; (3) he himself; (4) False; (5) "The Pearl of
Great Price," "The Talents," "The Rich Fool," etc.; (6) 100-fold in this time, eternal life, souls
won, etc.
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LESSON 11
September 11, 1971
THE MINISTRY OF MISSIONS 11
"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar
people; that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of
darkness into His marvelous light." 1 Peter 2:9.
Peter wrote this to his generation. If you
had your choice, when would you choose to
live, then or now? Peter could think of his
generation in the context of Pentecost, when
"more were converted by one sermon on
the day of Pentecost than were converted
during all the years of Christ's ministry."—
Ellen G. White Comments,
SDA Bible Com-
mentary,
Vol. 6, p. 1055.
But let us rather think of "our" genera-
tion:
1.
A chosen generation—to complete the
work committed to the church.
2.
A royal priesthood—with all, including
the laity, sharing in the witness.
3.
An holy nation—citizens of God's
kingdom, pilgrims and strangers here.
4.
A peculiar people—that is, a select or
a special people, God's prized possession.
LESSON OUTLINE
1.
Church Compared to the Body
1 Cor. 12:12-14
2.
Our Relationship to the Church
and to Christ
Mark 3:32-35
3.
The Purpose of Leadership
Eph. 4:11-14
4.
Individual Responsibility
Matt. 21:28
5.
Work of the Members
Matt. 5:14
6.
The Reward to Individuals
Mark 10:29, 30
85
The Ministry of Missions
LESSON 11
❑
Sunday
September 5
Part 1
"For as the body is one, and hath many members, and
CHURCH COMPARED all the members of that one body, being many, are one
TO THE BODY body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all bap-
tized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles,
whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to
drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member,
1 Cor. 12:12-14.
but many."
There can be no question from the context that Paul is talk-
ing about the church. In the first part of this twelfth chapter
he enumerates the gifts which God has placed in the church.
Then, after discussing the functioning of the spiritual body, he
makes it most plain in verse 28 that he is talking about the
church and the various talents which have been given to it.
In verse 27, after comparing the church and its various functions
to the human body, he specifically states, "Now, ye are the
body of Christ, and members in particular."
Who is the head of the body? Col. 1:18.
"Very close and sacred is the relation between Christ and
His church—He the bridegroom, and the church the bride; He
the "head, and the church the body. Connection with Christ,
then, involves connection with His
church."—Education,
page
268.
Now let us go back and call to mind some of the salient
thoughts in 1 Corinthians 12:
1.
Verse 12. One body, not one for each country.
2.
Verse 13. Baptized into one body.
3.
Verse 14 (also verse 20). Many members, various func-
tions.
4.
Verses 15-21. Appreciation and satisfaction for one's tal-
ents and place in the church.
5.
Verses 22-24. Delicate, less honorable, uncomely, feeble
parts given extra protection.
6.
Verse 25. Purpose of various functions to prevent schism
in the body.
7.
Verse 25. Members protect (care) for one another.
8.
Verse 26. If one member of the body suffers, all suffer.
THINK IT THROUGH
What would you say is the greatest single factor in
keeping us together doctrinally as a church in all the
world?
"'The head of every man is Christ.'
God, who put all things under the Sav-
iour's feet, 'gave Him to be the head
over all things to the church, which is
His body, the fullness of Him that filleth
all in all.' 1 Cor. 11:3; Eph. 1:22, 23.
The church is built upon Christ as its
86
foundation; it is to obey Christ as its
head. It is not to depend upon man, or
be controlled by man."—"The Desire of
Ages," page 414.
FOR DEEPER STUDY: "The Acts of the
Apostles," pages 317, 318.
The Ministry of Missions
LESSON 11
❑
Monday
September 6
Part 2
"And the multitude sat about Him, and they said
OUR RELATIONSHIP unto Him, Behold, Thy mother and Thy brethren without
TO THE CHURCH seek for Thee. And He answered them, saying, Who is
AND TO CHRIST My mother, or My brethren? And He looked round about
on them which sat about Him, and said, Behold My mother
and My brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of God,
Mark 3:32-35 the same is My brother, and My sister, and My mother."
"Woman.
In OT figure the true church is at times repre-
sented by a woman (Isa. 54:5, 6; Jer. 6:2). When the church
apostatized it was compared with a corrupt woman (Jer. 3:20;
Eze. 23:2-4). The same figures appear in the NT ( 2 Cor. 11:2;
Eph. 5:25-32; Rev. 17:1-3). In Rev. 12 the woman represents
the true church."—SDA
Bible Commentary
on Rev. 12:1.
"The people of God, symbolized by a holy woman and her
children, were represented as greatly in the minority. In the
last days only a remnant still existed. Of these John speaks as
they 'which keep the commandments of God, and have the
Testimony of Jesus Christ.' "—Ellen G. White Comments,
SDA
Bible Commentary,
Vol. 7, p. 972.
What symbol or relationship does Paul use to illustrate
the relationship of Christ and the church? 2 Cor. 11:2;
Eph. 5:23-25.
"God is the husband of His church. The church is the bride,
the Lamb's wife. Every true believer is a part of the body of
Christ. . . . We are to remember that we are members of
Christ's body."—Ellen G. White Comments,
SDA Bible Com-
mentary,
Vol. 7, pp. 985, 986.
When we are born into God's family, God accepts us as His
'sons and daughters. And by the same token, the church elected
to accept you and me as members of His remnant church.
Does the majority of a local church have the power
and the right to disfellowship a member? Matt. 18:17, 18.
Where may we expect to find the presence of Christ
and spiritual communion with Him? Rev. 1:13, 20.
THINK IT THROUGH
Does the individual church have the right to set stan-
dards for admitting and disfellowshiping members?
"All who would receive Christ by
faith were united to Him by a tie closer
than that of human kinship. They would
become one with Him, as He was one
with the Father. As a believer and doer
of His words, His mother was more
nearly and savingly related to Him
than through her natural relationship.
His brothers would receive no benefit
from their connection with Him unless
they accepted Him as their personal
Saviour."—"The Desire of Ages," page
325.
FOR DEEPER STUDY: "The Great Con-
troversy," pages 381, 382.
87
The Ministry of Missions
LESSON 11
❑
Tuesday
September 7
Part 3
"And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets;
THE PURPOSE and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
OF LEADERSHIP for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of ministry,
for the edifying of the body of Christ: till we all come
in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the
Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of
the stature of the fullness of Christ: that we henceforth
be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about
with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and
Eph. 4:11-14 cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive."
THINK IT THROUGH
Lest some might misunderstand, where did Paul say in
his letter to the Corinthians that these gifts of leadership
were placed? 1 Cor. 12:28.
According to the' above verses, the purpose of the church
can be summarized thus:
1.
To train and organize and direct the members in their
work of ministry.
2.
To perfect the saints spiritually as the church.
3.
To bring the church into unity.
4.
To establish the members doctrinally in Bible truth.
"The church was intended to take up, and fulfill, the work
that Israel failed to do—that of representing God's character
to the world (see Mat 28:19; Rom 2:28, 29; Gal 3:28, 29;
Eph 2:8-22; 1 Pe 2:5-10), and of preparing itself for the return
of its Lord (1 Cor 1:7, 8; 2 Pe 3:14; Rev 14:5;
etc.)."—SDA
Bible Dictionary,
page 210.
What did Peter say the church, as the people of God,
was to be? 1 Peter 2:9.
What are the leaders of my church doing to train,
organize, and direct me in my ministry for Christ?
Am I willing to do my part?
"In sending forth His ministers our
Saviour gave gifts unto men, for
through them He communicates to the
world the words of eternal life. This is
the means which God has ordained for
the perfecting of the saints in knowl-
edge and true holiness. . . .
"All who have been benefited by the
88
labors of God's servant should, accord-
ing to their ability, unite with him in
working for the salvation of souls. This
is the work of all true believers, min-
isters and people."—"Testimonies," Vol.
5, pp. 237, 238.
FOR
DEEPER
STUDY: "Testimonies,"
Vol. 8, p. 169-171.
The Ministry of Missions
LESSON 11
Part 4
INDIVIDUAL
RESPONSIBILITY
Matt. 21:28
THINK IT THROUGH
❑
Wednesday
September
8
"But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and
he came to the first, and said, Son, go work today in my
vineyard."
The chief priests and elders confront Christ with a question,
"By what authority doest Thou these things?" In reply, He
asks them a question about John's baptism, which really puts
His hearers on the horns of a dilemma. And then He tells them
two parables, each of which ends in a question.
The first of these parables is that of a man with two sons,
both of whom were told •to "go work today in my vineyard."
This parable is told only in the Gospel of Matthew, which
was written mainly for the Jews.
"The priests and rulers could not but give a correct answer
to Christ's question, and thus He obtained •their opinion in
favor of the first son. This son represented the publicans, those
who were despised and hated by the Pharisees... .
"The second son represented the leading men of the Jewish
nation. Some of the Pharisees had repented and received the
baptism of John; but the leaders would not acknowledge that
he came from
God."—The Desire of Ages,
page 595.
"The church is God's appointed agency for the salvation of
men. It was organized for service, and its mission is to carry
the gds
-
bel
-
tothe
—
World:
-
7. . The membersof the church, those
whom He has called out of darkness into His marvelous light,
are to show forth His glory."—The
Acts of the Apostles,
page 9.
If the church of God is advancing as a mighty army,
does it need organization? What is my part? Commis-
sioned officer, noncommissioned officer, or private?
"All are to show their fidelity to God
by the wise use of His entrusted capi-
tal, not in means alone, but in any
endowment that will tend to the up-
building of His kingdom.... God never
designed that the lay members of the
church should be excused from labor in
His cause. 'Go labor in My vineyard,'
is the Master's command to each of His
followers."—"Testimonies," Vol. 5,
p.
462.
FOR DEEPER
STUDY: "Testimonies to
Ministers," pages 183, 184.
89
Part 5
WORK OF THE
MEMBERS
Matt. 5:14
THINK IT THROUGH
❑
Thursday
September
9
"Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an
hill cannot be hid."
"At this time a message from God is to be proclaimed, a mes-
sage illuminating in its influence and saving in its power. His
character is to be made known. Into the darkness of the world
is to be shed the light of His glory, the light of His goodness,
mercy, and
truth."—Christ's Object Lessons,
page 415.
"Saul . . . was placed in direct communication with the
church which is the light of the world. In this case Ananias
represents Christ, and also represents Christ's ministers."—The
Acts of the Apostles,
page 122.
"The Jews thought to confine the benefits of salvation to
their own nation. . . . Salvation is like the sunshine. It belongs
to the whole world."—The
Desire of Ages,
pages 306, 307.
"The followers of Christ are to go forth on their mission,
diffusing the light of heaven upon those who are in the dark-
ness of error and
sin."—Thoughts From the Mount of Bless-
ing,
page 39.
In the parable of the sower, Christ is represented as sowing
the good seed. Matt. 13:37. "The good seed are the children of
the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked
one." Verse 38.
"Christ's servants are grieved as they see true and false
believers mingled in the church. They long to do something
to cleanse the church. Like the servants of the householder,
they are ready to uproot the tares. But Christ says to them,
`Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the
wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest.' "
—Christ's Object Lessons,
page 71.
No one will deny that the church itself is, in a sense, a mis-
sion field. When Jesus sent forth the Twelve, He sent them
"to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." Matt. 10:6. Should
the larger mission outreach be delayed until the church is
purged? Should some members be delegated to home missions
while others go to lands afar? Do you think that modern
methods of travel and communication have some part in God's
plan for the timing of His worldwide message?
What were Christ's last words to His disciples just
before His ascension? Acts 1:8 Compare Luke 24:47, 48.
Does a witness have to be forced before he will testify?
The Ministry of Missions
LESSON 11
"God desires that the receivers of
His grace shall be witnesses to its
power. Those whose course has been
most offensive to Him He freely accepts;
when they repent, He imparts to them
His divine Spirit, places them in the
highest positions of trust, and sends
90
them forth into the camp of the disloyal
to proclaim His boundless mercy."—
"The Desire of Ages," page 826.
FOR DEEPER STUDY:
"Christ's Object
Lessons," pages 37-43 (1923 ed., pages
31-37).
The Ministry of Missions
LESSON 11
Part 6
THE REWARD TO
INDIVIDUALS
Mark 10:29, 30
THINK IT THROUGH
❑
Friday
September 10
"And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you,
There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sis-
ters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands,
for My sake, and the gospel's, but he shall receive an
hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and
sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with per-
secutions; and in the world to come eternal life."
We have this same thought expressed in Matthew 19:29 and
in Luke 18:29, 30, but Mark remains the most detailed and
inclusive.
What we have brought to mind in all three references are
the results to the individual of forsaking the world for the
things of God.
"But Peter's question, 'What shall we have therefore ?'
[Matt. 19:27] had revealed a spirit that uncorrected would
unfit the disciples to be messengers for Christ; for it was the
spirit of a hireling. . . . Lest the disciples should lose sight of
the principles of the gospel, Christ related to them a parable
illustrating the manner in which God deals with His servants,
and the spirit in which He desires them to labor for Him.
. . . Not the amount of labor performed or its visible results
but the spirit in which the work is done makes it of value with
God."—Christ's Object Lessons,
pages 396, 397.
Is there joy and pleasure in merely sowing the gospel seed?
Need we worry about the harvest? Are we guaranteed a har-
vest?
"While the great final reward is given at Christ's coming,
truehearted service for God brings a reward, even in this life.
. . He may not see the fruit of his toil. But in face of all this
he finds in his labor a blessed recompence."—Testimonies, Vol.
6, pp. 305, 306.
In addition to the joys and pleasures of cooperating
with God here and now, what can the worker for God
look forward to? 1 Thess. 2:19, 20. Compare Matt.
25:21, 23.
Paul refers here to his converts won and souls saved as his
real joy at the coming of Christ.
Do you think it is wrong to work for a reward? See
Heb. 11:26.
Is it enough just to warn people? Or is something
more involved in winning souls?
"By living a life of devotion and self-
sacrifice in doing good to others, you
might have been adding stars and gems
to the crown that you will wear in
heaven, and laying up unfading, eter-
nal treasures."—Ellen G. White Corn-
ments, "SDA Bible Commentary," Vol.
4, p.
1174.
FOR DEEPER STUDY: "Christ's Object
Lessons," pages 395-399 (1923 ed.,
pages 402-406).
91
The Ministry of Missions
LESSON 11
September 11
Part 7 0 SUMMARY QUESTIONS
0
A TEST OF YOUR STUDY POWER
1.
The most important factor in the church organization is
(a)
the General
Conference president,
(b)
the elected delegates to the General Conference,
(c)
the authority of each local church board,
(d)
recognizing that Christ is
the Head of the church.
2.
What symbol in Scripture represents the true church?
The apostate church)
3.
The church was intended to take up . . . the work . of
God's
to the world, and of
for the
of its Lord.
4.
How does the parable of the two sons apply today?
itself
5.
True or False: The most important work for the local congregation is to
clean up its own membership before it tries to evangelize the neighborhood.
6.
Did Moses, or did he not, work for a reward)
(The answers are at the bottom of the page.)
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LESSON 12
September 18, 1971
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THE MEN OF MISSIONS
112
I
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71;
odi
"As thou hast sent Me into the world, even so have I sent them into the world."
John 17:18.
The only instance in which John uses the
Greek word for "apostle" ("one sent,"
"messenger") is in John 13 :16, where it is
translated, "he that is sent," and where it
refers to the Twelve and indirectly to any
of Christ's messengers. In John 17:18 the
Greek word translated "sent" is the verb
form of the same word. It might be trans-
lated, "Even so have I
apostled
them into
the world," which would preserve the flavor
of the original.
As we in our day reflect on the gospel
commission, we should do so with two pro-
found convictions clearly in mind—that we
are members of God's remnant church, and
that God has commissioned us to proclaim
His last saving message to the world. For
nearly half a century the Protestant world
has been rethinking foreign missions. Such
phrases as "missions in crisis," "rethinking
missions," "missions in a time of testing,"
and "redefining missions" have appeared
again and again. It is a simple fact that
the churches have been losing their vision
of missions. What about your church and
mine?
LESSON OUTLINE
1.
The Church as a Temple
Eph. 2:19-22
2.
Christ's Zeal for His Temple
John 2:17
3.
Early Church Soon Loses Its
Vision
Rom. 1:14
4.
Dawn of Protestant Missions
Rev. 12:16
5.
Adventist Mission Impulse
Rev. 14:6-10
6.
One Church in All the World
Eph. 4:4-6
93
The Men of Missions
LESSON 12
❑
Sunday
September 12
Part 1
"Now therefore ye are no more strangers and for-
GOD'S CHURCH eigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the
AS A TEMPLE household of God; and are built upon the foundation of
the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the
Chief Cornerstone; in whom all the building fitly framed
together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: in
whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of
Eph. 2:19-22 God through the Spirit."
Think on these things:
1.
The church is the household of God. 1 Tim. 3:15.
2.
Prophets and apostles laid the foundation.
3.
Christ is the Chief Cornerstone that "holds together the
various parts of the spiritual house, giving shape and unity to
it."—SDA Bible Commentary,
on Eph. 2:20.
"In the quarry of the Jewish and the Gentile world the
apostles labored, bringing out stones to lay upon the foun-
dation. In his letter to the believers at Ephesus, Paul said
[Eph. 2:19-22 quoted]. And to the Corinthians he wrote:
[1 Cor. 3:10-13 quoted]. The apostles built upon a sure founda-
tion, even the Rock of Ages. To this foundation they brought
the stones they had quarried from the world. Not without hin-
drance did the builders labor. Their work was made exceedingly
difficult by the opposition of the enemies of Christ."—The
Acts
of the Apostles,
page 596.
Notice Peter's description of the same spiritual building.
1 Peter 2:5-8. How many similarities do you find here to what
Paul wrote to the Ephesians? If every Christian becomes in
a sense a priest, must he have an offering? Heb. 8:3. Compare
Rev. 20 : 6.
This figure of speech by which individual church members
are thought of as being parts of a building occurs also in Ps.
144:12, where sons are spoken of as plants and daughters as
cornerstones.
THINK IT THROUGH
What kind of stone am I in the temple of the Lord?
"How amazed is Heaven at the pres-
ent condition of the church that could
be so much to the world if every stone
were in its proper place, a living stone
to emit light!
A
stone that does not
shine is worthless. That which consti-
tutes the value of our churches is not
dead, lusterless stones, but living
stones, stones that catch the bright
beams from the Chief Cornerstone, even
94
the Sun of Righteousness—the brigFv
glory in which are combined the beam:
of mercy and truth that have met to
gether, of righteousness and peace tha
have kissed each other." Ellen G. Whit(
Comments, "SDA Bible Commentary,'
Vol. 6, p. 1116.
FOR DEEPER
STUDY: "The Acts of th(
Apostles," pages 595-599.
This is not the first time that Jesus entered the temple.
Thirty years earlier He had been brought here as a babe, to be
presented as a firstborn son. Luke 2:22-24. At the age of
twelve He had accompanied His parents to the Passover
Feast, at which time we have His first recorded words: "Wist
ye not that I must be about My Father's business?" Luke 2:49.
"As His mission had opened to Jesus in the temple, He
shrank from contact with the multitude. He wished to return
from Jerusalem in quietness, with those who knew the secret
of His life. . . . As Joseph and 'Mary should return from Jeru-
salem alone with Jesus, He hoped to direct their minds to the
prophecies of the suffering Saviour."—The
Desire of Ages,
page 82.
He came to save a lost world. But was the work of
salvation completed when He ended His mission here on
earth? John 17:4, 18.
The Men of Mission's
LESSON 12
❑
Monday
September
13
Part 2
"And His disciples remembered that it was written,
CHRIST'S ZEAL The zeal of Thine house hath eaten Me up."
FOR HIS TEMPLE
John 2:17
"As Christ is the channel for the revelation of the Father, so
we are to be the channel for the revelation of Christ. . . . The
church of Christ, every individual disciple of the Master, is
Heaven's appointed channel for the revelation of God to man.
Angels of glory wait to communicate through you Heaven's
light and power 'to souls that are ready to
perish."—Thoughts
From the Mount of Blessing,
page 40.
When and under what circumstances was the gospel
commission given? Matt. 28:18-20; Acts 1:6-8.
"Before ascending to heaven, Christ gave His disciples their
commission."—The
Acts of the Apostles,
page 27.
"When the disciples asked Him, 'Lord, wilt Thou at this
time restore again the kingdom to Israel?' He answered, 'It is
not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father
bath put in His own power.' .. . It was not necessary for them
to see farther into the future than the revelations He had made
enabled them to see. Their work was to proclaim the gospel
message."—Ibid., p. 30.
THINK IT THROUGH
Did the disciples find it easier to assist in feeding the
five thousand than they did to preach and witness about
Christ? Which was more popular?
"To every child of God whose voice
the enemy of souls had succeeded in
silencing, the question is addressed,
'What doest thou here?' I commissioned
you to go into all the world and preach
the gospel, to prepare a people for the
day of God. Why are you here? Who
sent you?"—"Prophets and Kings," page
172.
FOR DEEPER STUDY: "The Desire of
Ages," pages 75-82.
95
The Men of Missions
LESSON 12
❑
Tuesday
September 14
Part 3
"I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the barbarians;
EARLY CHURCH both to the wise, and to the unwise."
SOON LOSES
ITS VISION
Rom. 1:14
is a chosen vessel unto Me, to bear My name before the Gen-
"The angel that appeared to Ananias had said of Paul, 'He
"Read also Rev. 2:4.
tiles, and kings, and the children of Israel.' Acts
9:15."—The
Acts of the Apostles,
page 159.
Paul caught the vision and accepted the 911. Later, leaders
of the church in Antioch (Acts 13:2) were directed by the
Holy Spirit to ordain Paul and Barnabas for the work to
which they had been called.
According to the
SDA Bible Dictionary,
the word "bar-
barian" was used of "peoples who did not speak Greek, with-
out reference as to whether they were civilized or not," or of
"the unintelligible speech of a foreigner."
To what extent do you think that Paul and the other
disciples became involved in social and political issues
of the day? See Acts 17:6; 1 Cor. 1:17, 18, 21, 23, 24;
Eph. 6:19, 20.
When did the early church lose its first love, its incen-
tive, its vision? Rev. 2:4.
THINK IT THROUGH
"In John's day Ephesus was the leading city of the Roman
province of Asia, and later was its capital. . . . Christianity
appears to have been preached there first about
A.D.
52, by
Paul, when he stopped for a short time while homeward
bound to Jerusalem and Antioch from his Second Missionary
Journey. His friends Aquila and Priscilla settled there at that
time and . . . fostered the work of evangelization until Paul's
return. . . . This time the apostle remained at Ephesus for
about three years. . . .
"Tradition indicates that John . . . became the leader of
this church. . . . Thus, at the time the Revelation was written,
Ephesus must have been one of the leading centers of Chris-
tianity. Consequently it was fitting that Christ's first message
by John should have been addressed to this church."—SDA
Bible Commentary,
on Rev. 2:1.
For how long a period of prophetic history did the
true church go underground? Rev. 12:6, 13. What hap-
pened to missions during this period?
"The missionary activity of the early
Christian church has not been dupli-
cated until modern times. It had vir-
tually died out by the year 1000, and
was succeeded by the military cam-
paigns of the Crusades. The Refor-
96
mation era saw little foreign mission
work, except on the part of the early
Jesuits."—"The Great Controversy," Ap-
pendix, page 690.
FOR DEEPER
STUDY:
"The Great Con-
troversy," pages 284-288.
The Men of Missions
LESSON 12
❑
Wednesday
September 15
Part 4
"And the earth helped the woman, and the earth
THE DAWN OF opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which
PROTESTANT the dragon cast out of his mouth."
Rev. 12:16
MISSIONS
of the Protestant Reformation. After centuries of persecution,
"The woman" here represents the true church at the time
relief came to her a little while before "the remnant of her
seed" appeared on the stage of action (verse 17) toward the
close of time.
Which prophetic period especially speaks of oppres-
sion of the church? Dan. 7:25; Rev. 12:14; 13:5-7.
Why did the Protestant churches not awaken to their
responsibility in foreign missions before the end of the
eighteenth century?
"The Reformers evidenced no concern for overseas missions
to non-Christians. Indeed, three centuries elapsed before Prot-
estantism at large even began such outreach. Why?"—W. R.
Hogg,
The Theology of the Christian Mission,
page 95.
"One searches in vain in the works of Martin Luther for
any exposition of Matthew 28:19, 20 or Mark 16:15 that would
hint at the church's responsibility to move beyond Christendom.
. . . Examination of Zwingli, Bucer, John Knox, and Melanch-
thon produces the same negative report."—Ibid., page 98.
During the three centuries that followed the Protestant
Reformation, a number of independent churches arose in Europe
and spread to other lands. During these three centuries a few
Protestant groups conducted missionary endeavors, notably
the Moravians and certain Pietistic groups. The first mission
societies were organized by volunteer groups, people interested
in foreign missions, and some of them were nondenominational.
None of the churches, as churches, took an interest in missions.
THINK IT
.
THROUGH
What led to the rapid spread of missions once the
program got started?
"For the fifty years preceding 1792,
little attention was given to the work
of foreign missions. . . . Few churches
. . . made any effort for the spread
of Christianity in heathen lands. But
toward the close of the eighteenth
century a great change took place. Men
became dissatisfied with the results of
rationalism and realized the necessity
of divine revelation and experimental
religion. From this time the work of for-
eign missions attained an unprece-
dented growth.
"The improvements in printing have
given an impetus to the work of cir-
culating the Bible. The increased facili-
ties for communication between differ-
ent countries, the breaking down of an-
cient barriers of prejudice and national
exclusiveness, . . . have opened the
way for the entrance of the Word of
God."—"The Great Controversy," pages
287, 288.
FOR DEEPER STUDY:
"The Great Con-
troversy," Appendix, pages 689, 690.
97
The Men of Missions
LESSON 12
❑
Thursday
September 16
Part 5
"And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven,
THE ADVENTIST having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that
MISSION IMPULSE dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred,
and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear
God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment
is come: and worship Him that made heaven, and earth,
and the sea,
and
the fountains of waters. And there
followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is
fallen, that great city, because she made all nations
drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. And
the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice,
If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive
his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall
drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured
out without mixture into the cup of His indignation; and
he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the
presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the
Rev. 14:6-10 Lamb."
THINK IT THROUGH
"At times during the early days of the message, Seventh-day
Adventists caught glimpses of a broadening work that would
eventually embrace many nationalities. Not until the early
70's, however, did the leaders in the advent movement begin
to comprehend that theirs was a mission to the whole world.
Even as late as in 1872, the scripture, 'This gospel of the king-
dom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all
nations; and then shall the end come,' was regarded simply
as a 'prominent sign of the last day,' meeting fulfillment in the
extension of Protestant missions. . . . But in 1873 a marked
change of sentiment began to appear in the utterances of leaders
among Seventh-day Adventists regarding their duty to warn
the world."—Life
Sketches,
footnote, page 203.
What providential leading of the Spirit of God did
Paul have on his missionary journeys? Acts 16:6, 9.
At one time the Spirit of God restrained Paul from entering
a certain country and guided him to Macedonia instead. In
our time the Holy Spirit led the Advent people to establish
foreign missions.
The Lord used Christians of other faiths and other
nationalities to lay the foundation for a strong foreign
mission work when the time came for the third angel's
message to be given to the world.
FOR DEEPER STUDY: "Life Sketches," pages 203-207.
98
The Men of Missions
LESSON 12
❑
Friday
September 17
Part 6
"There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are
ONE CHURCH IN called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith,
ALL THE WORLD one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above
Eph. 4:4-6
all, and through all, and in you all."
"There is a sevenfold repetition of the word 'one' in ch.
4:4-6. Unity is the apostle's theme in these verses. There are
many members, but one body. . . . The Christian is not a
solitary pilgrim; he belongs to a vital organism, the family of
God."—SDA
Bible Commentary,
on Eph. 4:4.
Seventh-day Adventists around the world constitute one
great family, and to this fellowship they invite all who love
the Lord Jesus, who desire to order their lives in harmony
with His purpose for them, and who look for His promised
return. This invitation to all men everywhere will culminate
in the call of the mighty angel of Rev. 18:1-4, summoning those
who choose to obey God rather than to follow human traditions
to unite with God's remnant people.
"When the storm of persecution really breaks upon us, the
true sheep will hear the true Shepherd's voice. . . . And many
who have strayed from the fold will come back to follow the
Great Shepherd."—Christian
Service,
page 166.
THINK IT THROUGH
If you were sent out to pioneer mission work in a
new country, how would you begin? Would you start
(a) an English class, (b) a school, (c) medical work, (d) an
evangelistic campaign, (e) a publishing house, (f) litera-
ture distribution?
"The object of this Conference is to
teach all nations the everlasting gospel
of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ
and the commandments of God."—"Sev-
enth-day Adventist Year Book," 1970,
page 7.
"The particular business and objects
for which this corporation is formed are
for the purpose of diffusing moral and
religious knowledge throughout the
entire world by means of churches, or-
ganizations, publishing houses, medical
or health institutions, educational insti-
tutions, publications, missionary agen-
cies, and all other instrumentalities and
methods appropriate and available for
and tending to the advancement of such
ends and aims."—"General Conference
Working Policy," page 64.
"Revelation 18 points to the time
when, as the result of rejecting the
threefold warning of Rev. 14:6-12, the
church [apostate] will have fully reached
the condition foretold by the second
angel, and the people of God still in
Babylon will be called upon to separate
from her communion. This message is
the last that will ever be given to the
world; and it will accomplish its work."
—"The Great Controversy," page 390.
FOR DEEPER STUDY: "The Great Con-
troversy," pages 603-612.
99
The Men of Missions
LESSON 12
September 18
Part 7 G SUMMARY QUESTIONS G A TEST OF YOUR STUDY POWER
1.
"The church . . . could be so much to the world if every stone were in its
, a living stone to emit
I A stone that does not
is
2.
The church is Heaven's appointed channel for
(a)
improving social con-
ditions;
(b)
revealing myste
-
rious doctrines;
(c)
the revelation of God to man;
(d)
condemning sin.
3.
Why did the early church lose its "first love and zeal, and what would
you say were contributing causes
4.
True or False: Luther and the other great Reformers failed to sense the
importance of missionary outreach
5.
When did the Seventh-day Adventist leaders become aware of our duty to
warn the worlcP
6.
"When the storm of persecution really breaks upon us, . . . many who
have
from the
will come back and
the
Great Shepherd."
(The answers are at the bottom of the page.)
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100
September 25, 1971
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s
k
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THE MIRACLE OF MISSIONS 11
4
,D)
"For He will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short
work will the Lord make upon the earth." Rom. 9:28.
The task of evangelizing the world with
the everlasting gospel, the "good news of
the ages," will be complete before Christ
returns to our world. He who has all power
in heaven and earth, He who has every re-
source at His disposal, has decreed it so.
Men fail because they neglect to take all
factors into account, or because their re-
sources are limited, or because they do not
possess the determination that is required.
But there can be no failure in God's great
program of missions when we take into
account His omniscience, His power, and
His sovereign will to "finish the work, and
cut it short in righteousness."
The story of the growth and develop-
ment of Christian missions is thrilling. The
miracles of divine grace on the hearts and
in the lives of men in lands near and far
inspire us all. But do we want this adven-
ture to continue indefinitely? Will the end
never come? We close this quarter's series
of lessons with a consideration of "The
Miracle of Missions," with the church of
God triumphant on the sea of glass in the
kingdom of glory.
LESSON OUTLINE
1.
The Miracle of Power
Rom. 1:16
2.
The Miracle of Transformed
Lives
Eph. 2:1, 2
3.
The Miracle of a Harvest
Acts 6:7; 12:24; 19:20
4.
The Miracle of One World
Church
John 10:16
5.
The Miracle of a Completed
Task
Matt. 24:14
6.
The Miracle of the Church
Triumphant
Rev. 7:9
101
The Miracle of Missions
LESSON 13
Part 1
THE MIRACLE
OF POWER
Rom. 1:16
THINK IT THROUGH
❑
Sunday
September
19
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it
is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that
believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek."
The word translated into English as "power" is the same
one from which our word "dynamite" is derived. The gospel
is the dynamic power of God to save men. It is the good news
about God and His infinite purpose.
What is the gospel to those who find salvation through
it? 1 Cor. 1:18.
"Power of God.
The gospel is the way in which God exerts
His power for the salvation of men. Wherever the gospel finds
believing hearts it is a divine power by which all the obstacles
to man's redemption are removed."—SDA
Bible Commentary,
on Rom. 1:16.
- "There is a great work to be done. The world will not be
converted by the gift of tongues, or by the working of miracles,
but by preaching Christ crucified. The Holy Spirit must be
allowed to
work."—Testimonies to Ministers,
page 424.
What did Christ say would give His disciples power
to witness and carry out His commission to go into all
the world? Acts 1:8.
"It is the unction of the Holy Spirit and the testimony of
the living witness that is to warn the world. The worker for
God is the agent through which the heavenly communication
is given, and the Holy Spirit gives divine authority to the word
of truth."—Ellen G. White Comments,
SDA Bible Commen-
tary,
Vol. 6, p. 1053.
To what extent is our salvation the concern of the
Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit?
Why did Christ entrust the proclamation of the gospel
to finite, erring men?
"I saw that God could send means
from heaven to carry on His work; but
this is out of His order. He has ordained
that men should be His instruments, that
as a great sacrifice was made to redeem
them, they should act a part in this
work of salvation, by making a sacri-
102
fice for each other, and by thus doing
show how highly they prize the sacri-
fice that has been made for them."—
"Spiritual Gifts," Vol. 2, p.
245.
'FOR DEEPER
STUDY: "Testimonies to
Ministers," pages 423-425.
Part 2
THE MIRACLE OF
TRANSFORMED
LIVES
Eph. 2:1, 2
❑
Monday
September
20
"And you hath He quickened, who were dead in tres-
passes and sins; wherein in time past ye walked accord-
ing to the course of this world, according to the prince
of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in
the children of disobedience."
The Miracle of Missions
LESSON 13
"Quick, Quicken.
Old English words appearing in the KJV
with the meaning 'alive' and 'to make alive' (Num. 16:30; Ps.
55:15; 71:20; Acts 10:42 ; Rom. 4:17; etc.)."—SDA
Bible Dic-
tionary,
page 897.
This epistle was addressed to the Ephesian church, to which
the apostle John wrote a generation later that they had left
their first love. Rev. 2:4.
After reminding the Ephesians that they had been
"made alive" by the love and grace of God, how did
Paul describe their present state? Eph. 2:4-6. What had
made the transformation in their lives? Eph. 1:13.
Men, physically dead, cannot restore themselves to life. Nor
can men who are spiritually dead. The power to impart life
must come from outside themselves.
"Miracles can be wrought through the Word; for it is profit-
able for all
things."—Evangelism,
page 489.
In writing to the Corinthians, what picture did Paul
paint of men before and after this transforming experi-
ence? 1 Cor. 6:9-11.
Paul reminds the Corinthians, persons whom he says are
"called to be saints" (1 Cor. 1:2), of their notorious past. But
he indicates that God's gift of justification and His promise
of sanctification had given them a wholly new outlook. See
2 Cor. 5:17-20; 6:1 for the responsibility resting on one who
has experienced transformation through Christ.
THINK IT THROUGH
What new relationship does the Christian sustain to
God after conversion? 1 John 3:1, 2; John 1:12.
"Through the power of Christ, men
and women have broken the chains of
sinful habit. They have renounced self-
ishness. The profane have become rev-
erent, the drunken sober, the profligate
pure. Souls that have borne the likeness
of Satan have become transformed, into
the image of God. This change is in it-
se
-
ifthe
-
n
—
cii
-ciEle of miracles. A change
wrought by the Word, it is one of the
deepest mysteries of the Word. We can-
not understand it; we can only believe,
as declared by the Scriptures, it is
'Christ in you, the hope of glory.' "—
"The Acts of the Apostles," page 476.
FOR DEEPER
STUDY: "Acts of the
Apostles," pages 469-484.
103
The Miracle of Missions
LESSON 13
Part 3
THE MIRACLE OF
A HARVEST
Acts 6:7; 12:24;
19:20
1).
❑
Tuesday
September 21
"And the word of God increased; and the number of
the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great
company of the priests were obedient to the faith."
"But the word of God grew and multiplied."
"So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed."
How inadequate meager human resources must have seemed
to Noah when God called him to warn and save the world
of his day ; or to Abraham, when God promised that his seed
would become as sand upon the seashore; or to Israel, a slave
nation, when God called them out of Egypt; or to Gideon,
when his army was reduced to 300 men; or to the eleven apos-
tles, to whom Christ committed a world task; or to the pio-
neers of the remnant church, when God entrusted them with
a threefold message for the world.
What facilities do we have in our day that Paul and the
other apostles did not have, or that the pioneers of the message
did not have one hundred years ago? Are we making the best
possible use of all of these facilities?
"God does not generally work miracles to advance His truth.
If the husbandman neglects to cultivate the soil, God works
no miracle to counteract the sure results. He works according
to great principles made known to us, and it is our part to
mature wise plans, and set in operation the means whereby
God shall bring about certain results. Those who make no
decided effort, but simply wait for the Holy Spirit to compel
them to action, will perish in
darkness."—Christian Service,
page 228.
Having the message, the commission, the assurance of
power, and the promise of the Holy Spirit, what shall we
do? Matt. 9:38; John 4:35.
Christ never told His disciples to pray for the harvest. God
has promised the harvest if we will pray for laborers, and then
help Him answer our prayers.
THINK IT THROUGH
In this godless age in which we live, are there any
prospects of reaping a good harvest?
"Among earth's inhabitants, scat-
tered in every land, there are those
who have not bowed the knee to Baal.
Like the stars of heaven, which appear
only at night, these faithful ones will
shine forth when darkness covers the
earth and gross darkness the people.
In heathen Africa, in the Catholic lands
of Europe and of South America, in
104
China, in India, in the islands of the
sea, and in all the dark corners of the
earth, God has in reserve a firmament
of chosen ones that will yet shine
forth."—"Prophets and Kings," pages
188, 189.
FOR DEEPER STUDY: "Evangelism,"
pages 692-707.
Part 4
THE MIRACLE OF
ONE WORLD
CHURCH
John 10:16
❑
Wednesday
September 22
"Other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them
also I must bring, and they shall hear My voice; and there
shall be one fold, and one Shepherd."
There is no more reason to think that there may be several
folds or several flocks than to rationalize that there must be
more than one Shepherd. In every instance, Christ spoke in
the singular.
The apostolic church thought in terms of one church (1 Cor.
12:12, 13, 25, 27), one faith (Eph. 4:13), one baptism (Eph.
4:4-6)—not a divided church or a divided Christ. •Christ loved
the church, not churches (Eph. 5:25-27), which He earnestly
desires •to cleanse and purify so "that He might present it to
Himself a glorious church."
When the Adventist pioneers considered organizing the
church, they thought in terms of
one
church, as they did of
one
message. Today the organization has grown into missions,
conferences, unions, and divisions of the one church the world
around. In this respect Seventh-day Adventists stand out as
unique in the Protestant world. In striking contrast, with China
as an example, in the book
The Communist Church in China,
Francis Price Jones describes the religious situation there in
1949: There were some fifteen or twenty separate Lutheran
mission boards at work, eight different Methodist mission
boards, three from Britain, four from the United States, and
one from Canada.
In varying degrees the same might be said of many another
country. As a result, sixty years ago Protestant mission boards
inaugurated what was called the "comity" plan, of dividing up
each country among the boards already operating there. But in
all the world there is only one Seventh-day Adventist Church.
This church functions on the basis that it has a distinctive judg-
men-hour message to proclaim, indeed the closing gospel invi-
tation and final warning to be given to all the world.
What final invitation has God extended to His "other
sheep"? Rev. 18:4.
The Miracle of Missions
LESSON 13
THINK IT THROUGH
What is my part in this whole plan?
"To you, My disciples, I commit this
message of mercy. It is to be given to
both Jews and Gentiles—to Israel, first,
and then to all nations, tongues, and
people. All who believe are to be
gathered into one church."—"The Acts
of the Apostles," page 28.
FOR DEEPER STUDY: "SDA Encyclope-
dia," article "Mission."
105
Part 5
THE MIRACLE
OF A COMPLETED
TASK
Matt. 24:14
❑
Thursday
September 23
"And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in
all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then
shall the end come."
"Christ made it clear that the kingdom He established at
His first advent was not the kingdom of glory."—SDA
Bible
Commentary,
on Matt. 3:2.
"The 'kingdom of heaven' was established at the first advent
of Christ. Jesus Himself was King, and those who believed
in Him became its subjects. . . . But, as Jesus Himself made
clear, this kingdom of grace was preparatory to the kingdom
of
glory."—Ibid.,
on Matt. 4:17.
"Hand in hand with foreign missions have gone the trans-
lation and circulation of the Scriptures. Whereas the first 18
centuries of the Christian Era saw the Bible translated into
only 71 languages, the next century—the 19th—saw the total
climb to 567. By the middle of the 20th century the number
had grown to over 1,000. [And today, that number has swelled
to over 1,400]. There are but few people in the world today
who do not have access to at least some part of Scriptures in
their own tongue."—Ibid., on Matt. 24:14.
"Christ ascended to heaven and sent His Holy Spirit to give
power to the work of His disciples. Thousands were converted
in a day. In a single generation the gospel was carried to every
nation under
heaven."—Testimonies,
Vol. 8, p. 26.
As human beings we are prone to want to speculate and
figure. From the human point of view we may say that it
has taken so many years for the church to reach its present
position, and that it will take us so many more years to warn
the whole world. People are being born faster than we can
reach them. Obviously, to complete the task will take a miracle
of God's power.
What did Paul say about the work of God in the earth?
Rom. 9:28.
The Miracle of Missions
LESSON 13
How will God "finish His work" and conclude the task
of warning the world? Read Joel 2:1, 28-32; Rev. 10:7;
18:1.
THINK IT THROUGH
Are there now evidences of the "latter rain"?
"Let them understand that there is
a large work to be done outside the
pulpit by thousands of consecrated lay
members. . . . When the members of
the church of God do their appointed
work in the needy fields at home and
abroad, in fulfillment of the gospel
106
commission, the whole world will soon
be warned and the Lord Jesus will re-
turn to this earth with power and great
glory."—"The Acts of the Apostles,"
page 111.
FOR
DEEPER STUDY:
"The Great Con-
troversy," pages 611, 612.
Part 6
THE MIRACLE OF
THE CHURCH
TRIUMPHANT
Rev. 7:9
❑
Friday
September 24
"I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man
could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people,
and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the
Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their
hands."
The Miracle of Missions
LESSON 13
There may be different views concerning the relationship of
the great multitude to the 144,000 presented in the first part
of chapter 7 as having been sealed. Suffice it to say that here
we have pictured the redeemed from all the earth, the trium-
phant saints of all ages.
"Let us strive with all the power that God has given us to
be among the hundred and forty-four thousand."—Ellen G.
White 'Comments,
SDA Bible Commentary,
Vol. 7, p. 970.
In Rev. 14:3 the 144,000 are pictured again, while in the
fifteenth chapter (verses 2, 3) we find the great multitude of
redeemed saints.
What is the difference between the two groups as to
(a)
their experience,
(b)
•
their victory, and
(c)
their song of rejoicing?
"What sustained the 'Son of God during His life of toil
and sacrifice? He saw the results of the travail of His soul and
was satisfied. Looking into eternity, He beheld the happiness
of those who through His humiliation had received pardon and
everlasting life. •His ear caught the shout of the redeemed. He
heard the ransomed ones singing the song of Moses and the
Lamb."
—
The
Acts of the Apostles,
page 601.
What will be the reward of the faithful? 1 John 3:1, 2;
Rom. 8:17.
THINK IT THROUGH
Is "reward" the best word with which to refer to the
reward of the faithful?
"When the earthly warfare is accom-
plished, and the saints are all gathered
home, our first theme will be the song
of Moses, the servant of God. The sec-
ond theme will be the song of the
Lamb, the song of grace and redemp-
tion. This song will be louder, loftier,
and in sublimer strains, echoing and
reechoing through the heavenly courts.
Thus the song of God's providence is
sung, connecting the varying dispensa-
tions; for all is now seen without a veil
between the legal, the prophetical, and
the gospel. The church history upon the
earth and the church redeemed in
heaven all center around the cross of
Calvary. This is the theme, this is the
song,—Christ all and in all. . . . It is a
new song, for it was never before sung
in heaven."—"Testimonies to Ministers,"
page 433.
FOR DEEPER
STUDY: "The Acts of the
Apostles," pages 593-602.
107
The Miracle of Missions
LESSON 13
September 25
Part 7 G SUMMARY QUESTIONS
0
A TEST OF YOUR STUDY POWER
1.
"God has ordained that men should be His
and by
thus doing show how highly they
the
that
was made for them."
2.
What is the meaning of the old English word "quicken")
How does this happen spiritually)
3.
True or False: It is wrong to pray for a harvest of souls
4.
Is it true that only members of the Seventh-day Adventist church can
enter heaven?
5.
The work of carrying the gospel message to all the world is assigned pri-
marily to
(a)
ordained ministers,
(b)
elected church officers,
(c)
trained mis-
sionaries,
(d)
all church members
6.
What is the theme of the new song the redeemed will sing in heaven?
(The answers are at the bottom of the page.)
Ile uc pue
lie
;spy° (9) ./3 (9) !ou (q) :aged (g) !(4j.uds AloH ato
4statip jo aansod
tpnoato „'ontie atietu o;„ (g) !aogpaes
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108
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Thirteenth Sabbath Overflow Offering
SEPTEMBER 25, 1971
•
TRANS-AFRICA DIVISION
The Congo and Central African Unions, which are French-
speaking areas, comprise nearly one half the membership of the
Trans-Africa Division. These unions include the countries of
Rwanda, Burundi, and the Congo, to which our Thirteenth Sab-
bath Overflow Offering goes. The specific projects are (1) a class-
room and administration building at Kivu Adventist Seminary,
Congo; (2) an administration building, including a library and
laboratory, for the Gitwe College in Rwanda.
After years of trouble and war, stability and peace have now
come to the Congo. This country, four times the size of the state of
Texas or the country of France, offers great potential and promise
for our work. Tribalism is gradually eroding. The prejudice and
opposition which made our work difficult in past years have all but
disappeared under the existing government.
The word
missionary is
still magic in this country, for great re-
pect and appreciation are shown the missionary who has left his
homeland to help these people in their need. Be assured, however,
that our national believers do not sit back in indolence, expecting
the work of spreading the gospel to be done by the missionaries
alone. They work together as an effective team.
You may not have been to the Congo, Rwanda, or Burundi. But
you know their people: They are the same as you; they want to
learn; they want to be of help to others—to be ready to meet Christ.
You are both alike—except they need an opportunity.
Lessons for the Fourth Quarter of 1971
Sabbath School members who have not received an adult
Lesson Quarterly
for the fourth quarter of 1971 will be
helped by the following outline in studying for the first
lesson. The title of the series is "Home Relations." The title
of the first lesson is "The Home Is Built." The memory verse
is Psalm 127:1.
The outline is as followers: (1) God, the Architect. Gen.
1:27, 28. (2) Man, the Builder. Prov. 24:3, 4. (3) The Role
of the Husband. Eph. 5:23. (4) The Role of the Wife. Prov.
18:22. (5) Role of the Children. Eph. 6:1-3. (6) The Pur-
pose of the Home. Prov. 24:3, 4.
Litho in U.S.A.
1. KIVU SEMINARY
2. GITWE COLLEGE
Adm'nistration
Administration Building
Building
Library and Science Facilities
rilli
2. GITWE COLLEGE
RUNDI
RWANDA
SOUTH-WEST
TRANS-
REPUBLIC/
Ill
AFRICA
SWAZILAND
OF
SOUTH AFMCA
DIVISION
LESOTHO
I
111,"
Church
Sab. Sch.
Union
Population
Churches
Memb.
Members
Central African U.
5,550,000
483
86,604
177,452
Congo U.
16,400,000
156
23,250
49,660
South African U.
7,626,255
141
12,220
13,997
South-East Africa U.
4,042,412
165
28,038
47,898
Southern U.
14,979,000
157
10,908
17,854
Zambesi U.
9,875,600
345
51,565
103,793
Division Totals
58,473,267
1,447
212,585
410,654
1. KIVU SEMINARY
CONGO